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Left-back Alejandro Balde will miss Tuesday’s Champions League semifinal second leg between Inter Milan and Barcelona.
This according to Spanish outlet AS, via FCInterNews. They report that the Spaniard has not recovered from injury, and will not travel with the squad.
One of the big injury doubts for Barcelona ahead of the second leg of their Champions League tie against Inter Milan has concerned left-back Alejandro Balde.
Balde missed the first leg of the tie this past Wednesday.
The reason was a thigh injury that the 21-year-old picked up during a league match against Leganes last month.
Gerard Martin has been filling in for Balde in the meantime. Martin started the first leg against Inter, although he came off at halftime with Inigo Martinez moving to left-back.
Alejandro Balde To Miss Inter Milan Vs Barcelona Second Leg
Alejandro Balde has been pushing to return to fitness in time for the all-important second leg against Inter.
There had been some cautious optimism in the Barcelona camp regarding the Spanish international’s fitness.
However, time has run out for Alejandro Balde.
The second leg against Inter is just a couple days. And a return to fitness is still not immediately on the horizon for the 21-year-old.
Therefore, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick will not take any risks with Balde’s fitness.
The Spaniard will stay behind rather than travelling with the Barcelona squad to Italy. There is not chance of his playing against Inter, either as a starter or as a substitute.
Therefore, AS predict, it will likely be Inigo Martinez who starts at left-back against Inter on Tuesday.
Then, Pau Cubarsi and Ronald Araujo will start in the centre of the back four. And Eric Garcia will play at right-back in the absence of the injured Jules Kounde.
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