Barcelona’s defensive depth has suffered another significant blow as 19-year-old full-back Xavi Espart is expected to miss approximately seven weeks of action. The club confirmed on Monday that the defender sustained a right ankle injury during Sunday’s 2-1 home loss to Real Madrid at Spotify Camp Nou.
The injury occurred early in the first half of the high-stakes LaLiga clash on October 25. Espart was forced off the pitch in the 30th minute following a collision with a Real Madrid player. He was replaced by Alejandro Balde as Barcelona attempted to stabilize their backline during the eventual defeat. In a medical update released via an official statement, the club attributed the injury specifically to that collision.
The seven-week recovery window effectively puts an end to Espart’s competitive appearances for the remainder of 2026. With Barcelona’s final fixture of the calendar year scheduled for December 20, the young defender will likely focus on a rehabilitation program aimed at returning for the start of the second half of the season in January.
Losing Espart is a particularly heavy blow for the Catalan side given the teenager’s impact since the start of the campaign. In nine appearances this season, Espart has emerged as a key contributor to the attack from the defensive flanks, recording two goals and two assists. His absence leaves a void in a position where the club is already stretched thin by a mounting injury list.
Barcelona’s medical room is increasingly crowded with defensive talent. The club is currently navigating a period without veterans Andreas Christensen and Jules Kounde, as well as Eric Garcia, all of whom are sidelined with various ailments. The loss of Espart reduces the senior squad’s available defensive options to just four primary players: Joao Cancelo, Alejandro Balde, Pau Cubarsi, and Gerard Martin.
The timing of the injury is especially difficult as the club looks to recover from the points dropped against their rivals. Management will now have to rely heavily on the few remaining healthy defenders to navigate a dense schedule of domestic fixtures leading up to the winter break.
