With only six matchdays remaining in LaLiga, FC Barcelona sit nine points clear at the summit, the title now within touching distance. Crucially, they are nine points better off than at this stage last term—a vital safety net given the barrage of injuries that has threatened to derail their campaign in recent weeks.

The prospect of losing Lamine Yamal for the remainder of the season is the latest blow in a sequence of setbacks that might have proved fatal had they occurred earlier or while FC Barcelona were still juggling Champions League commitments. With Raphinha still several weeks away from a return and a diagnosis pending for Joao Cancelo, it feels as though Flick's side are losing a key figure in almost every outing.

While the treatment room has been busy all season, the situation reached a breaking point ahead of the attempted Copa del Rey comeback against Atletico Madrid, when Frenkie De Jong suffered a muscle tear that sidelined him for five weeks.

Matters worsened during that clash with the 'Colchoneros' as Jules Kounde and his replacement, Alex Balde, both succumbed to similar fates, adding to a growing list of absentees.

Kounde y Balde se lesionaron en el Barcelona-Atletico de Madrid

The Champions League offered no respite: Marc Bernal was withdrawn with muscle fatigue in the first leg, while Joan Garcia experienced the same issue in the return. The international break then affected Raphinha, who broke down during Brazil's encounter with France after having already shown signs of fatigue in the prior meeting with Rayo Vallecano.

A league meeting with Atletico Madrid brought further misfortune for Flick's squad. Marc Bernal, amidst a prolific scoring run, suffered an ankle sprain he is yet to overcome, while Ronald Araujo was forced off in the first half with muscle discomfort.

The derby against Espanyol saw Gerard Martin twist his ankle unaided; though he failed to reappear after the interval, he did manage to recover in time for the Champions League return leg at the Metropolitano days later.

Marc Bernal sufrio un esguince de tobillo y aun no ha vuelto

In this relentless cycle of attrition, only the fixtures against Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla passed without incident. Barca also navigated both legs of their Champions League quarter-final without fresh injuries, despite the added physical toll of Cubarsi's red card in the first leg and Eric Garcia's dismissal in the second. Meanwhile, Fermin has been forced to play in a protective mask following a collision with Atletico's goalkeeper Musso.

Despite the revolving door of the infirmary, the Azulgrana have been imperious, winning 12 of their 14 matches in 2026. This consistency has been the bedrock of their lead over an erratic Real Madrid, even after Arbeloa's side briefly seized top spot on matchday 16 following Barca's slip-up in Girona.

While a Clasico remains—offering Real Madrid a chance to trim the gap and potentially claim the head-to-head advantage—the nine-point cushion looks substantial enough, even as the season's finish line begins to feel like a marathon for FC Barcelona.

Marc Bernal

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