Barcelona have confirmed that defender Jules Kounde has sustained a hamstring injury and will miss the crucial Champions League semi-final second leg against Inter Milan next Tuesday at the San Siro.
The Frenchman limped off during the intense 3-3 first leg draw on Wednesday night, and tests on Thursday revealed a hamstring issue in his left thigh.
“Tests carried out this morning have shown that first team player Jules Kounde has a hamstring injury in his left thigh,” the club said in a statement.
While Barcelona did not reveal a recovery timeline, Kounde is expected to miss Saturday’s La Liga clash with Real Valladolid and is a serious doubt for the upcoming El Clasico against Real Madrid on May 11.
Kounde, 26, has been a key figure in Barcelona’s campaign, making 53 appearances in all competitions. Eric Garcia is expected to continue at right-back in his absence as the Catalan side, currently chasing a quadruple, aim to overcome Inter and reach the Champions League final.
