According to a report by Barca Universal on Wednesday October 28, 2026, Barcelona are racing against time to recover Jules Kounde for Saturday’s La Liga clash against Alaves, while Andreas Christensen and Eric Garcia could return earlier than expected.

According to reports, Kounde is still training separately from the first team as he recovers from an ankle sprain. Hansi Flick is facing a defensive injury crisis, although the club remains determined to avoid rushing players back before they are fully fit.

Barcelona currently have four defenders sidelined with injuries, with young defender Xavi Espart recently joining the list. The teenager is expected to spend approximately seven weeks recovering after suffering an injury during El Clasico following a heavy challenge from Aurelien Tchouameni.

Kounde is the most likely of the three senior defenders to return against Alaves. However, he had not resumed first-team training by Wednesday. Barcelona are hoping the additional recovery time following El Clasico will allow the Frenchman to receive medical clearance. Even in the best-case scenario, he would have only two training sessions with the squad before Saturday’s encounter.

Christensen is approaching five weeks out after suffering a tear in the rectus femoris muscle of his left quadriceps. Barcelona are targeting their Champions League meeting with Aston Villa on November 3 for his potential comeback. The Danish defender could initially start on the bench, even if he receives clearance.

Eric Garcia is also recovering from a quadriceps injury sustained against Real Betis on October 17. The Spaniard initially faced three to four weeks on the sidelines, making the November 8 meeting with Atletico Madrid his expected return date. However, Barcelona have not ruled out his availability against Aston Villa.

The defensive absences have left Flick with limited options ahead of a demanding run of fixtures. The club wants to restore its defensive depth as soon as possible without compromising the players’ recovery.

Barcelona’s medical staff are therefore maintaining a cautious approach. The final decision on each defender’s return will depend on their physical condition and readiness to compete.