Dani Olmo injury raises doubts over Barcelona forward’s El Clasico availability

Barcelona forward Dani Olmo is facing a spell on the sidelines with a suspected left-thigh muscle tear, in another injury setback for manager Hansi Flick before Sunday’s El Clasico against Real Madrid.

Olmo was forced off after 27 minutes of Barcelona’s 4-2 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday. He was replaced by team-mate Fermin Lopez.

According to Spanish newspaper AS, Olmo left the Parc des Princes appearing frustrated and holding his thigh in a concerning manner. Initial reports indicate that the Spain international suffered a tear in the muscle of his left thigh.

The injury is expected to rule Olmo out of Sunday’s La Liga meeting with Real Madrid at Camp Nou, as well as several subsequent matches, although the diagnosis and recovery period will not be confirmed until Wednesday.

Olmo is due to undergo a magnetic resonance imaging scan in Barcelona, which will determine the full extent of the injury and provide a clearer indication of when he may return.

“If a tear is confirmed, the recovery period could range between four and five weeks,” AS reported.

The setback comes at a particularly difficult time for Flick, with Barcelona already having lost Jules Kounde and Eric Garcia to injuries during their previous La Liga match against Real Betis.

Olmo’s injury is the third blow to the Barcelona squad in the build-up to the meeting with Real Madrid, which will be played at Camp Nou in the 10th round of La Liga.