Barcelona loses a key player for five weeks due to injury after Real Madrid’s victory

Barcelona claimed a huge 5-2 victory over rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday night, giving them not only a title but a morale-boosting victory after a difficult start to the year. However, this was not free.

Not only will they lose Wojciech Szczesny to suspension for the next Copa del Rey match against Real Betis, but Hansi Flick will also be unable to count on Íñigo Martínez for the next five weeks. Sport reports that he will be sidelined due to a tear in his hamstring, suffered in the first half, which forced him to leave the field, and Martínez was replaced by Ronald Araujo.

Wojciech Szczęsny will miss this week’s Copa del Rey match against Real Betis due to the red card he received yesterday. @RamonFuentes74

— Barcacentre (@barcacentre) January 13, 2025

This leaves Flick without one of its regular starters during a busy period in the calendar. In total, Martínez will miss nine games if the recovery time is accurate: Real Betis in the Copa del Rey (H), Getafe (A), Benfica (A), Valencia (H), Atalanta (H), Alavés. (H), Sevilla (A), Rayo Vallecano (H) and Las Palmas (A). He would also miss the Copa del Rey quarterfinals if Barcelona beats Real Betis in the Cup.

Araujo was excellent after replacing Martínez, but with the Uruguayan likely to leave the club during the transfer window, that could leave Flick somewhat shorthanded. Currently, Sergi Domínguez or Eric García could replace the Basque defender as alternatives to Araujo, while Andreas Christensen is also expected to return soon from injury.