Barcelona boss Hansi Flick has suffered a major injury blow ahead of the 2024/25 season run-in.
La Blaugrana sealed a 3-3 UEFA Champions League semifinal first leg draw with Inter Milan on April 30 to keep alive their chances of a major trophy treble at the end of May.
Flick's charges have a four-point lead at the top of La Liga, but they have some crunch tests on the horizon, including a return clash at the San Siro on May 6 and a title-decider at home to Real Madrid just five days later.
However, as per the latest update from Diario AS, France international Jules Kounde will miss both games due to a hamstring injury.
Kounde has made the right-back spot his own in the last 18 months, switching seamlessly from central defence, to cover a long-standing problem position for Barcelona.
However, after being forced off in the first leg against Simone Inzaghi's visitors, the former Sevilla star could potentially miss the remainder of the La Liga season.
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Jules Kounde injury: Return date, Barcelona games missed
Kounde was replaced by Eric Garcia on 42 minutes, after signalling an issue to the Barcelona bench, with Gerard Martin also taken off by Flick at half-time.
A club statement has confirmed Kounde suffered a 'minor distal hamstring injury' following medical tests on the 26-year-old and he faces at least three weeks out of action.
Based on that projection, Kounde will be absent against Inter Milan and Real Madrid, plus the incoming league trip to already relegated Real Valladolid on May 3.
Two further La Liga clashes also fall within that window at Espanyol on May 15 and at home to Villarreal on May 18.
That will be a total of five games missed across all competitions for a player who had featured 86 consecutive matches for Barcelona prior to being rested for the win over Mallorca on April 22.
If his recovery timetable remains on track, Kounde could feature in Barcelona's final league game of 2024/25, on the road at Athletic Bilbao on May 25, but his involvement is dependent on a host of factors.
Athletic Bilbao are closing in on a La Liga top five spot - which would secure UCL qualification for next season - and they could host Barcelona on the back of appearing in the Europa League final on May 21.
Barcelona's potential Champions League final is on May 31 - and if Flick makes it through to the Munich showdown - he may keep Kounde back, particularly if the La Liga title is secure.
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