Dani Olmo suffered a suspected injury during Barcelona’s match after being selected in Hansi Flick’s starting lineup ahead of Fermín López, casting serious doubt over his availability for the upcoming El Clásico against Real Madrid.
The Spanish midfielder was making his 100th appearance in a Barcelona shirt, but the milestone turned into a disappointing occasion. Midway through the second half, Olmo collided with Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha while competing for the ball and immediately felt pain in his leg before going down on the pitch.
Realising he was unable to continue, Olmo quickly requested a substitution, following Ousmane Dembélé, who had also been forced off earlier in the game. Fermín came on to replace him in the 72nd minute, with television footage showing Olmo visibly frustrated as he left the field.
Although Barcelona have yet to provide an official diagnosis, the injury has raised serious concerns about Olmo’s availability for the upcoming clash against Real Madrid. Unless the problem proves to be minor, his participation in El Clásico is considered highly unlikely, with Flick reportedly unwilling to take unnecessary risks with the midfielder’s fitness.
Olmo did not head straight to the dressing room after being substituted. Instead, he remained on the bench, where television cameras captured the visibly dejected Barcelona star struggling to hide his disappointment over the injury.
Barcelona will now await further medical assessments to determine the extent of the problem and whether Olmo has any chance of recovering in time for one of the biggest fixtures of the season.