Barcelona sweating on latest Ansu Fati injury problem

Barcelona are sweating on the severity of a hamstring injury that forced Ansu Fati out of Saturday’s 3-3 draw with Celta Vigo at half-time.

Fati scored the opening goal of the game inside the first five minutes of the contest and Barça looked on course for a comfortable win in the final game under the leadership of interim head coach Sergi Barjuan, who now makes way for returning legend Xavi.

The Catalans were cruising at 3-0 at the end of the opening 45 minutes. But Fati didn’t return for the second half in Vigo and his teammates ultimately lost their way.

Celta had the ball in the next five times in the second half. Fortunately for Barça, only three of them counted thanks to offside and handball decisions from the officials.

Worryingly, more injury trouble looks to be responsible for Fati’s premature exit.

Mundo Deportivo writes that the teenager suffered a problem with his left hamstring. The usual protocol in this scenario is for medical staff to carry out an assessment in the coming days.

Fati has been named in Spain’s squad for this month’s World Cup qualifiers against Greece and Swede but his participation with the national team is now highly in doubt.

Barça were already in the midst of an injury crisis, even before kick-off in Vigo, yet Fati wasn’t the only player to come away from the game nursing a problem.

MD adds that Eric Garcia, who also didn’t return for the second half, was suffering with discomfort in his calf, while the reason for 19-year-old starlet Nico’s departure was a thigh muscle issue.

They join the likes of Gerard Pique, Sergio Aguero, Ousmane Dembele, Pedri, Sergi Roberto and others on the sidelines.