Barcelona's Injury Woes Ahead of LaLiga Clash with Granada

 Barcelona's Injury Woes Ahead of LaLiga Clash with Granada

Robert Lewandowski of FC Barcelona reacts during the UEFA Champions League match between FC Porto and FC Barcelona at Estadio do Dragao on October 04, 2023 in Porto, Portugal.(Image-Getty)

Barcelona's head coach, Xavi Hernandez, faces a challenging task in selecting his squad for the LaLiga match against Granada on Sunday due to a string of injuries, including the absence of key striker Robert Lewandowski.

Lewandowski, the top scorer for Barca last season and currently with five league goals this campaign, suffered a heavy tackle from Porto's David Carmo during Wednesday's 1-0 Champions League victory. On Thursday, Barcelona officially announced that the 35-year-old Polish striker would be sidelined, with no specified timeline for his return.

In addition to Lewandowski, Barcelona is dealing with injuries to crucial players such as Frenkie De Jong, Pedri, and Raphinha. Despite these challenges, the team is only one point behind Real Madrid at the top of the LaLiga table.

Fortunately for Xavi, their upcoming opponent, Granada, is currently second from the bottom in the league with only one win in eight games.

Xavi may consider turning to 16-year-old Lamine Yamal, who has already participated in 10 matches across all competitions this season. Yamal recently made history as the youngest-ever starter in a Champions League match before being substituted late in the game. However, Xavi will need to carefully manage the young player's workload to avoid overburdening him.

While Barcelona's leading goal scorer is sidelined, Real Madrid appears to be in formidable form, particularly midfielder Jude Bellingham, who has scored eight goals in nine matches this season. The 20-year-old Englishman continued his scoring streak during Real's thrilling 3-2 comeback victory against Napoli in the Champions League.

Real Madrid is set to host Osasuna, currently in 10th place, on Saturday. Meanwhile, on Sunday, Real Sociedad will face defensively solid Atletico Madrid, who have conceded only seven goals this season, the second-fewest in the league after their city rivals, Real Madrid.

Real Sociedad's Takefusa Kubo, who has scored five league goals this season, aims to continue his impressive form, trailing only Bellingham in the scoring charts. Atletico Madrid currently holds the fourth position in the league with 16 points, just one point ahead of Real Sociedad.

Girona, one of the surprise teams of the season, sits in third place, trailing Real Madrid by two points. They are set to face Cadiz on Saturday.