According to a report by Barca Universal on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Barcelona have suffered a major injury setback ahead of their El Clasico clash against Real Madrid, with Dani Olmo expected to miss the crucial encounter because of an adductor injury.

The Spanish midfielder picked up the injury during Barcelona’s 4-2 Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night, creating another selection problem for manager Hansi Flick ahead of Sunday’s La Liga showdown.

According to SPORT journalist Carlos Monfort, medical examinations revealed that Olmo had suffered an adductor tear that is expected to keep him out of action for approximately four weeks.

Olmo started Barcelona’s European fixture at Parc des Princes but was forced off after just 27 minutes following a collision with PSG midfielder Vitinha. Flick responded by introducing Fermin Lopez to replace the injured playmaker.

The diagnosis means Olmo is expected to miss the first El Clasico of the 2026/27 season, dealing a considerable blow to Barcelona’s preparations for the meeting with their fierce rivals at Spotify Camp Nou.

The 28-year-old offers valuable creativity in attacking midfield, where his movement between the lines, passing ability and vision help connect the midfield with the forward line. His absence will leave Flick with fewer options as he attempts to find the right balance against a Real Madrid side capable of exploiting defensive and midfield weaknesses.

Fermin is among the leading candidates to take over the attacking midfield role after replacing Olmo against PSG. However, Flick could explore other tactical alternatives depending on the availability and fitness of his remaining players.

Olmo’s injury is particularly frustrating for Barcelona because several other members of the squad are also facing fitness concerns.

Eric Garcia and Jules Kounde reportedly sustained injuries during the weekend fixture against Real Betis, leaving doubts over their availability for the Clasico. Andreas Christensen is also among the club’s injured players, while Roony Bardghji continues to face a longer spell on the sidelines.

These potential absences could further complicate Flick’s preparations, especially if Barcelona are forced to make several changes to their defensive line against Madrid’s dangerous attacking players.

Barcelona will also be eager to respond positively after their disappointing loss to PSG. However, losing Olmo before such an important domestic fixture represents another obstacle for the Catalan side, particularly if other injured players fail to recover in time.

For Real Madrid, Barcelona’s growing injury concerns could present an opportunity to exploit weaknesses in their opponents’ setup and strengthen their position in the La Liga title race.

Nevertheless, Olmo’s absence does not guarantee an advantage for Madrid. Barcelona still possess several attacking alternatives, and Flick will need to identify an effective combination capable of compensating for the midfielder’s creativity as his team prepares for one of the biggest matches of the season.