Overview

• A club medical statement said Balde suffered a small left biceps femoral injury during Wednesday’s training session, with his availability dependent on progress.
• No return timeline was given, and reporting notes a two‑to‑three‑week layoff could rule him out of Valencia, Oviedo and the Champions League opener at Newcastle.
• Balde was not called up by Spain for this window and had remained with Barcelona to train and prepare for the league’s resumption.
• The left‑back had a distal biceps femoral injury in April that sidelined him for the Copa del Rey final and the Champions League semifinals.
• Gerard Martín is the primary option to cover at left‑back, with academy fullback Jofre Torrents also involved with the first team.