Gavi's knee injury not serious, doubtful for Barcelona vs Athletic Club
Synopsis
Gavi's right knee has been a recurring anxiety for Barcelona — and Sunday's knock reopened that wound, however briefly. Tests confirm it's bruising, not ligament damage, but with two serious knee surgeries in two years, Flick will not risk the 22-year-old on Thursday. New boys Adeyemi and Gordon, meanwhile, gave Barcelona fans plenty to cheer in a 5-0 opener against Elche.
Key Takeaways
Gavi is doubtful for Barcelona's La Liga home game against Athletic Club of Bilbao on Thursday .
Tests on Monday morning confirmed the injury is bruising only — no fresh ligament damage.
Gavi missed much of 2024 with a cruciate ligament tear and had keyhole surgery on the same right knee in 2025 , sidelining him for five months .
Coach Hansi Flick said the injury was 'not as bad as we feared' but is unlikely to risk the midfielder.
New signing Rodri could make his Barcelona debut against Athletic Club in Gavi's absence.
Barcelona opened their La Liga title defence with a 5-0 win over Elche , with Raphinha , Adeyemi , Gordon , and Lopez all impressing.
FC Barcelona midfielder Gavi is doubtful for Thursday's La Liga opener at home to Athletic Club of Bilbao after sustaining a blow to his right knee during Sunday's match, though medical tests have confirmed no serious structural damage. The club issued a statement on Monday ruling out any fresh ligament injury.
What Happened During the Elche Match
Gavi was forced off shortly before halftime in Barcelona's commanding 5-0 victory over Elche on Sunday after taking a knock to his right knee. The exit immediately triggered concern among fans and medical staff, given the 22-year-old's well-documented history of problems with the same knee.
Medical Tests Rule Out Ligament Damage
Following tests conducted on Monday morning, Barcelona confirmed the injury amounts to bruising rather than anything more severe. 'Gavi received a blow on his right knee during yesterday's game,' the club said on its official website. 'The medical tests carried out this morning have confirmed that it is merely bruising and his return to training is expected to be in a short period of time.'
Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick had offered cautious early reassurance on Sunday, saying the injury was 'not as bad as we feared it could be when he went down.' Nevertheless, given Gavi's injury record, Flick is widely expected to take no risks with the midfielder ahead of Thursday's fixture.
A Knee That Has Caused Concern Before
This is not the first time Gavi's right knee has raised alarms. The Spain international missed much of 2024 after suffering a cruciate ligament tear, and underwent keyhole surgery on the same knee in 2025, which kept him sidelined for a further five months. The recurrence of any issue with that knee, however minor, understandably draws heightened scrutiny.
Notably, this is the third significant knee-related episode for Gavi in roughly two years — a pattern that will keep Barcelona's medical team vigilant even as they confirm the current injury is not serious.
New Signings Impress as Barcelona Open La Liga Title Defence
Despite Gavi's early exit, Barcelona kicked off their La Liga title defence in emphatic fashion with a 5-0 win away to Elche. Raphinha opened the scoring from the penalty spot before debutant Karim Adeyemi doubled the lead with an assist from Raphinha.
Second-half substitute Anthony Gordon — another new arrival — provided assists for Raphinha's second goal and for Fermin Lopez to tap in Barcelona's fourth. Lopez then capped the scoring with an excellent individual effort in the 79th minute. Coach Flick will take considerable encouragement from the early contributions of new signings Gordon and Adeyemi.
What Happens Next
With Gavi's availability for Thursday's home clash against Athletic Club of Bilbao in doubt, new signing Rodri could be handed his Barcelona debut in midfield. The club has indicated Gavi's return to training is expected 'in a short period of time,' though no specific timeline has been confirmed ahead of the La Liga fixture.
Point of View
But the real story is structural: this is the third significant knee episode for Gavi in under two years, and each recurrence — however minor — chips away at the confidence of both club and player. Barcelona's willingness to bench him for Thursday, even with a bruising diagnosis, signals that their medical team is treating his right knee as a long-term asset to be protected, not a short-term availability question. The broader subplot is also worth watching: if Rodri debuts on Thursday and impresses, Flick may find himself with a genuine midfield selection dilemma even after Gavi returns.
NationPress
25 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Gavi's knee injury from the Elche match?
Gavi sustained a blow to his right knee during Barcelona's 5-0 win over Elche on Sunday and was substituted shortly before halftime. Tests on Monday confirmed the injury is bruising only, with no ligament damage detected.
Will Gavi play against Athletic Club of Bilbao on Thursday?
Gavi is listed as doubtful for Thursday's La Liga home game against Athletic Club of Bilbao. Despite the injury not being serious, coach Hansi Flick is unlikely to risk him given his history of knee problems.
What is Gavi's history of knee injuries?
Gavi missed much of 2024 after suffering a cruciate ligament tear in his right knee and underwent keyhole surgery on the same knee in 2025, which kept him out for a further five months. Sunday's blow is the third notable knee incident in roughly two years.
Who could replace Gavi against Athletic Club?
New Barcelona signing Rodri is reportedly in line to make his debut for the club against Athletic Club of Bilbao if Gavi is ruled out on Thursday.
How did Barcelona perform in their La Liga opener against Elche?
Barcelona won 5-0 away to Elche on Sunday, with Raphinha scoring twice — including a penalty — and new signings Karim Adeyemi and Anthony Gordon both contributing. Fermin Lopez added two goals, including an individual effort in the 79th minute.
