Dani Olmo injury blow for Barcelona ahead of El Clasico on Sunday
Synopsis
Dani Olmo's suspected left adductor injury — suffered during Barcelona's first defeat of the season, a 4-2 Champions League loss to PSG — could keep him sidelined for up to a month, stripping Barça of a key creative force just before El Clasico, where a win could open up a nine-point gap over Real Madrid.
Key Takeaways
Dani Olmo , 27 , sustained a suspected left adductor muscle injury during Tuesday's 4-2 Champions League defeat to PSG .
He is ruled out of Sunday's El Clasico against Real Madrid and could be sidelined for up to one month .
Potential further absentees include La Liga fixtures against Alaves and Atletico Madrid , and a Champions League tie against Aston Villa .
Olmo is also a doubt for Spain's Nations League matches against Czech Republic ( 12 Nov ) and England ( 15 Nov ).
Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen are confirmed out of Sunday's game; Jules Kounde is a doubt with an ankle injury.
A Barcelona win on Sunday could extend their La Liga lead over Real Madrid to nine points .
FC Barcelona face a significant injury crisis ahead of Sunday's El Clasico against Real Madrid at the Camp Nou, after midfielder Dani Olmo sustained a suspected left adductor muscle injury during Tuesday night's 4-2 UEFA Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. The 27-year-old limped off in the first half and was replaced by Fermin Lopez, dealing Barça a double blow — the defeat was their first loss of the season.
Extent of the Injury
Barcelona's medical staff had yet to complete a full assessment as of Wednesday, but early indications point to damage to Olmo's left adductor muscle, according to the club. The injury is expected to sideline him for up to one month, ruling him out not only of the Real Madrid clash but potentially further fixtures including La Liga ties against Alaves and Atletico Madrid, as well as a Champions League group-phase encounter against Aston Villa.
The Spaniard is also now a doubt for the UEFA Nations League, with Spain scheduled to face the Czech Republic and England on 12 November and 15 November respectively.
Barcelona's Wider Injury Concerns
Olmo's absence compounds an already stretched defensive unit. Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen are both confirmed out of Sunday's fixture, while right-back Jules Kounde remains a doubt after picking up an ankle injury. The defensive depth available to coach Hansi Flick ahead of arguably the biggest domestic fixture of the season will be closely scrutinised.
How the PSG Defeat Unfolded
PSG controlled large spells of Tuesday's contest at the Parc des Princes, pressing Barcelona into errors near their own penalty area from the opening minutes. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia struck the post inside two minutes, while Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue also threatened early. PSG goalkeeper Matvei Safonov denied both Raphinha and Gordon in quick succession as Barcelona sought a foothold.
The opener arrived in the 38th minute when Doue capitalised on a lack of pressure from Barça's midfield to score from distance. Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz then struck late to settle the contest after Barcelona twice equalised. The result left PSG top of the Champions League league-phase standings with nine points from three matches, while Barcelona dropped to fifth place on six points.
Barcelona captain Raphinha acknowledged the disappointment after the final whistle. 'We were hoping for a win or at least a draw, but now we have to see what the coach tells us we need to improve,' he said.
What Is at Stake on Sunday
Despite the turbulent midweek, the stakes in Sunday's La Liga El Clasico remain enormous. A Barcelona victory over Real Madrid could extend their lead at the top of the table to as many as nine points, potentially putting significant distance between the two title rivals. Whether Flick can plug the defensive and midfield gaps in time will define whether Barça can capitalise on that opportunity.
Point of View
Christensen, and a doubted Kounde form a back-line crisis that Real Madrid's counter-attacking game is precisely designed to exploit. The PSG defeat also exposed something tactically: Barcelona were pressed into errors in their own half repeatedly, and without Olmo's ability to relieve pressure through distribution, that vulnerability could deepen on Sunday. The nine-point gap is tantalising, but this is a fixture where squad depth — or its absence — could define the title race.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What injury did Dani Olmo sustain against PSG?
Dani Olmo is reported to have injured his left adductor muscle during Barcelona's 4-2 Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday. He was forced off in the first half and replaced by Fermin Lopez, though Barcelona's medical team had not completed a full assessment at the time of initial reports.
Will Dani Olmo play in the El Clasico against Real Madrid?
No — the adductor injury rules Olmo out of Sunday's El Clasico at the Camp Nou against Real Madrid. He is expected to be sidelined for up to one month, potentially missing further La Liga and Champions League fixtures as well.
Which other Barcelona players are missing ahead of El Clasico?
Defenders Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen are both confirmed absent for Sunday's match, while Jules Kounde is a doubt due to an ankle injury. Barcelona are therefore facing notable gaps across their defensive line for one of the season's biggest games.
What are the implications of Olmo's injury for Spain?
Olmo is also a doubt for Spain's upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Czech Republic on 12 November and England on 15 November. His availability for those fixtures will depend on the pace of his recovery over the next three weeks.
What happened in the Barcelona vs PSG Champions League match?
PSG defeated Barcelona 4-2 in the Champions League on Tuesday, with Desire Doue opening the scoring from distance in the 38th minute and Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz netting late goals to settle the contest. Barcelona twice equalised but could not hold on, suffering their first defeat of the season; PSG top the league-phase standings with nine points from three games.
