Spanish heavyweights FC Barcelona have this evening been dealt a fresh blow on the personnel front.
Xavi Hernandez’s troops are of course currently locked in action, eyeing a return to winning ways in a La Liga meeting with relegation-battling RCD Mallorca at the Camp Nou.
And, late in the first-half on Sunday, all three points is precisely what the Blaugrana appear to be headed towards.
This comes owing to a strike on the part of Memphis Depay, who did superbly to latch onto a lofted pass from Jordi Alba before rifling the game’s opener home at the near post:
Memphis Depay what a strike ? pic.twitter.com/azHZ9iINL6
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 1, 2022
Pique limps off
Amid an otherwise positive evening’s work to date, though, as alluded to above, Barcelona have too been dealt a fresh blow on the personnel front.
The player to have sparked concern across the Catalans’ fanbase? Gerard Pique.
With a little less than half an hour played at the Camp Nou, veteran stopper Pique made his way to the touchline for a conversation with boss Xavi, evidently informing his ex-teammate that he was struggling with some form of issue.
In turn, it came as little surprise when Xavi showcased little hesitation in hauling off his key defender, who was actually viewed as a doubt to feature at all versus Mallorca in the buildup to the clash.
Pique, in turn, took his place on the bench, clutching at the upper region of his left leg.
Eric Garcia, meanwhile, was introduced in his place.
? Substitution
↑? @ericgm3
↓? @3gerardpique
#BarçaMallorca pic.twitter.com/mDFpvmWpTz— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 1, 2022
FC Barcelona vs RCD Mallorca live streaming: Watch La Liga online
Juventus keen to make move for Arsenal centre-back but may face Barcelona competition