Barcelona have been dealt a double injury blow in midfield ahead of the season run-in with Frenkie de Jong and Pedri both set to miss next week’s crucial Champions League game against Napoli and the trip to Atlético Madrid in LaLiga.
Holders Real Madrid hammered RB Salzburg 5-1 in a Champions League clash in the Spanish capital on Wednesday thanks to doubles from Brazilian forwards Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr either side of a goal by Kylian Mbappe.
Barcelona face further punishments for breaches of UEFA’s financial fair play (FFP) regulations, but club sources are hopeful they will avoid any severe sanctions from the governing body.
Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone has received a lucrative offer to manage Saudi club Al Ahli, but sources told ESPN he has no plans to abandon his LaLiga job.