Barcelona star ruled out of semi-final vs Real Madrid

FILE PHOTO (EDITORS NOTE: COMPOSITE OF IMAGES - Image numbers 1395582751, 1389568842 - GRADIENT ADDED) In this composite image a comparison has been made between Head coach Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid CF (L) and Head coach Xavi Hernandez of FC Barcelona. Real Madrid and Barcelona meet in El Clásico at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 16,2022 in Madrid, Spain. ***LEFT IMAGE*** MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 04: Head coach Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid CF looks on during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final Leg Two match between Real Madrid and Manchester City at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on May 04, 2022 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) ***RIGHT IMAGE*** BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 03: Head coach Xavi Hernandez of FC Barcelona looks on during the LaLiga Santander match between FC Barcelona and Sevilla FC at Camp Nou on April 03, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
FILE PHOTO (EDITORS NOTE: COMPOSITE OF IMAGES - Image numbers 1395582751, 1389568842 - GRADIENT ADDED) In this composite image a comparison has been made between Head coach Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid CF (L) and Head coach Xavi Hernandez of FC Barcelona. Real Madrid and Barcelona meet in El Clásico at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 16,2022 in Madrid, Spain. ***LEFT IMAGE*** MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 04: Head coach Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid CF looks on during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final Leg Two match between Real Madrid and Manchester City at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on May 04, 2022 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) ***RIGHT IMAGE*** BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 03: Head coach Xavi Hernandez of FC Barcelona looks on during the LaLiga Santander match between FC Barcelona and Sevilla FC at Camp Nou on April 03, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Real Madrid must be desperate to win the final El Clasico of the season, the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg at Camp Nou, after having lost three straight times against Barcelona. Of course, those results do not reflect well on Carlo Ancelotti, whose future at the club is up in the air right now and if they end up going trophyless, there is a good chance that he could be shown the exit door.

Real Madrid might have a decent chance of winning the second leg of the Copa del Rey semis though. They trail 1-0 on aggregate after having lost the first leg at Santiago Bernabeu.

But Barcelona are going through their injury problems at the moment and might have a significantly weakened team available for the second leg. Pedri and Ousmane Dembele could both miss out. And now, it looks like Andreas Christensen will not be playing any part in that match either.

As reported by AS, Christensen has suffered a small tear in his left calf muscle. The recovery time is expected to be approximately three to four weeks. As a result, at this stage he looks certain to miss the Copa del Rey game against Real Madrid.

Barcelona star ruled out of semi-final vs Real Madrid

Christensen arrived at Barcelona in the summer as a free agent, after his contract ran out at Chelsea. And he has established himself as a key player in Xavi’s side.

He has been one of the best defenders in Spain. As a result, him missing the second leg against Real Madrid will be a major blow for Barcelona.

Of course, he had been left on the bench as unused substitute in the first leg as well, due to a different issue. But that did not stop Barcelona from winning that game at Santiago Bernabeu by a 1-0 scoreline.