Barcelona fear Jules Kounde will miss El Clasico with ankle injury

Kounde's ankle problem deepens Barcelona's injury crisis

Barcelona are starting preparations for El Clasico after returning from Champions League action in Paris, but they have a number of injury problems to contend with ahead of the big game against Real Madrid.

Jules Kounde is now feared to miss the match. The Frenchman has been struggling with an ankle injury, and Eric Garcia and Kounde both missed the defeat to PSG. Dani Olmo also sustained a problem during that match and has been ruled out for a month.

It had been hoped that Kounde would recover in time for Sunday's clash with Real Madrid, but hope is now fading that the Frenchman will be ready.

Medical staff rate chances as unlikely

According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona's medical staff currently consider it "highly unlikely" that Kounde will be passed fit in time, due to a painful ankle sprain.

The report adds that there is a possibility of Kounde having painkilling injections in order to play. However, the concern is that this could aggravate the injury and make things worse.

Limited defensive options for Hansi Flick

As things stand, Hansi Flick has Pau Cubarsi, Xavi Espart, Joao Cancelo, Alejandro Balde and Gerard Martin as his fit senior defenders for the game against Barcelona's biggest rivals.

Earlier this month, Barcelona confirmed that Eric Garcia and Kounde would be sidelined, with Garcia expected to be out for three to four weeks. The club's defensive options have been thinned further since then, with Olmo's injury adding to the list of concerns.