Barcelona defenders Kounde, Balde suffer thigh injuries
Barcelona confirmed star defenders Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde suffered thigh injuries during the club's Copa del Rey clash with Atletico Madrid.
Hansi Flick's side looked to overturn a 4-0 deficit in the second leg of the tie, but fell just short as it won 3-0 at Camp Nou.
Kounde was forced off with an injury after just 13 minutes, though his replacement, Balde, was then substituted off in the 71st minute as Barca's injury list continues to grow.
Frenkie de Jong recently suffered a hamstring injury, while Gavi, Robert Lewandowski and Andreas Christensen are also sidelined.
Barca released statements on both players. About Balde, the club said: "First-team player Alejandro Balde has suffered a distal hamstring (biceps femoris) injury in his left thigh.
"Examinations indicate that the recovery process will take approximately 4 weeks."
"First-team player Jules Kounde has suffered a mid-belly hamstring (biceps femoris) injury in his left thigh.
"His recovery progress will determine his availability."
Balde and Kounde have started 24 games together in all competitions this season, with Barca winning 18 of those games (D2 L4) and averaging an impressive 2.7 goals per game while conceding 1.3 per game.
Barca faces Athletic Club in its next league game this weekend, before a Champions League last-16 first and second leg against Newcastle United come either side of a LaLiga match with Sevilla.
