Fears for Gavi as Midfielder Leaves Pitch in Tears

Barcelona's emphatic 5-0 victory at Elche was tarnished by a concerning sight late in the first half, as midfielder Gavi was forced off in tears after going down and clutching his right knee.

The 21-year-old, replaced by Pedri in the 44th minute with the score at 0-1, had felt discomfort earlier in the match following a blow to his right knee. Barcelona supporters would have feared the worst given Gavi's well-documented history of serious knee problems.

Gavi missed the second half of the 2023-24 season — as well as Spain's Euro 2024 triumph — after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament. He was then absent between August and March the following season after undergoing surgery to repair a medial meniscus tear in the same knee. The injuries have taken a significant toll on his availability, with Gavi restricted to just 13 appearances in 2025-26, only eight of which were starts.

Having made his senior debut for Barcelona in August 2021, Gavi made 76 starts across his first two seasons in the first team. Since the end of 2022-23, however, he has managed only 42.

Flick Offers Cautiously Optimistic Update

Speaking after the match, Hansi Flick provided a cautiously encouraging update on the midfielder's condition.

"It's his knee. We have to wait," Flick told reporters. "It's a little better than he expected when he got injured. After the game he was much better. We will do an MRI and see."

Gavi is scheduled to undergo further tests on Monday to determine the full extent of the injury. Barcelona will be desperately hoping the scan reveals no significant damage, particularly with the midfielder having shown during the World Cup how vital he remains to both club and country.

The timing of the injury is especially frustrating for Gavi, who had been working his way back to full fitness and was handed a start in the season opener — a sign of Flick's continued belief in the player despite his lengthy injury record.