Key Takeaways:
- Dani Olmo sustained a dislocated shoulder during Barcelona’s 3-1 victory over Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou and will be absent for approximately a month
- Olmo is set to miss five fixtures, including clashes against Real Betis, Eintracht Frankfurt, Osasuna, a Copa del Rey away match, and Villarreal, with hopes of returning for the Espanyol derby on 3 January
- Pedri Gonzalez, withdrawn due to fatigue, confirmed he is in good health on social media following his return to the starting line-up
Barcelona Confirm Dani Olmo’s Recovery Timeline
Barcelona have officially stated that Dani Olmo will be unavailable for the next month following the dislocated shoulder he suffered shortly after scoring the decisive goal in the 65th minute against Atletico Madrid. Olmo’s dynamic display marked a standout moment in a season where he has struggled for consistency, but ended abruptly after his injury forced him from the field.
INJURY NEWS ❗️
The first team player Dani Olmo suffered a dislocated left shoulder in the game on Tuesday against Atlético Madrid.
After tests, it has been decided to follow a conservative course of treatment.
Recovery time is approximately one month. pic.twitter.com/xA30OM7RG5
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 3, 2025
The initial prognosis had suggested that Olmo could be out for the remainder of 2025, however, Barcelona clarified on Wednesday afternoon that he is expected to miss a month of action. This unfortunately sidelines him for five upcoming matches: away to Real Betis, at home against Eintracht Frankfurt and Osasuna, an away tie in the Copa del Rey, and an away fixture at Villarreal to conclude the calendar year. There remains uncertainty regarding his availability for the local derby at Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium, scheduled for 3 January, a match that has now become a realistic target for his return.
| Opponent | Venue | Fixture Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Betis | Away | League | Will miss |
| Eintracht Frankfurt | Home | League | Will miss |
| Osasuna | Home | League | Will miss |
| Unknown | Away | Copa del Rey | Will miss |
| Villarreal | Away | League | Will miss |
| Espanyol | RCDE Stadium | League | Return targeted |
On a positive note for the squad, Fermín López is expected to make his return next week against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Pedri’s Return Eases Barcelona’s Concerns
Supporters were also apprehensive about Pedri Gonzalez, who, after participating for half an hour in Saturday’s fixture versus Alaves, was handed a starting place and featured for 70 minutes against Atletico Madrid. His promising display raised hopes until he was withdrawn, raising initial injury concerns. Manager Hansi Flick explained in his post-match remarks that the substitution was driven by fatigue, and Pedri himself provided reassurance with a social media update captioned: ‘All good, thank you!’
Risks and Precedence Surrounding Olmo’s Shoulder Injury
Olmo is not expected to require surgery for the current dislocation, although he has previously undergone an operation for a similar injury during his time at RB Leipzig, which led to a two-month absence. The situation draws parallels with Jude Bellingham’s experience – Bellingham played for 18 months with a brace after dislocating his shoulder before ultimately undergoing surgery this past summer, resulting in a further 2.5 months out.
