At this FIFA window FC Barcelona is leading La Liga, despite the catastrophic injury crisis that is currently engulfing the team. There are so many injuries that we need two parts to cover it. Here in part two, we’ll cover the guys that will be shelved for the long term: Ronald Araujo, Marc Bernal, Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and Andreas Christensen.
Also, be sure to check out part one, which went over the guys who could return to form in the near term: Gavi, Dani Olmo, Fermin Lopez and Ferran Torres.
Ronald Araujo
Star man with a lot of charisma is still working his way back from the hamstring injury that has sidelined him all his
Marc Bernal
Out for the season with a cruciate ligament tear.
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen
Out for the season with a patellar rupture.
Andreas Christensen
The former Chelsea central defender is out until November or December with an Achilles tendon problem.
Once Barca get back at it, following the conclusion of the October internationals, the major matches will come thick and fast. They have Sevilla coming to Catalonia on Oct. 20, then Bayern Munich for continental competition on Oct. 23.
And then of course, looming large already is the road El Clasico on October 26. Real Madrid are three points behind Barca in second place in the table, so while all editions of this rivalry are massive, this specific will be especially so.
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to Ravens Wire, part of the USA Today SMG’s NFL Wire Network and the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated, Chicago Tribune and the Washington Times. You can follow him on Linked In and Twitter.