Barcelona women are facing one of the most challenging injury periods in recent memory, with several core players sidelined at once. The absences of Aitana Bonmatí, Salma Paralluelo, Patri Guijarro, Ona Batlle, Kika Nazareth, and Esmee Brugts have significantly reduced the squad’s depth and disrupted the rhythm of a team known for its fluidity and control. With so many leaders unavailable at the same time, the responsibility for steadying the team now falls heavily on figures like Alexia Putellas and Clàudia Pina, whose qualities are essential for navigating this demanding stretch.
Ona Batlle – Soleus Injury (Out 3 Weeks)
Ona Batlle returned from the Spain camp with a confirmed soleus injury, with Barcelona estimating a recovery period of around three weeks. While the setback is frustrating, the timing means she should be available again by early next month. Her absence weakens the team’s wide defensive stability and progressive play, as Batlle is one of the best full-backs in Europe at carrying the ball forward and creating overloads on the wings.
Salma Paralluelo – Partial MCL Tear (Out 8–10 Weeks)
Salma Paralluelo suffered a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament in her left knee on 25 October 2025 during Spain’s Nations League semifinal against Sweden. She was forced off in visible discomfort in the 25th minute, the same knee in which she tore her ACL in 2021. Barcelona confirmed she would be out for eight to ten weeks, with a likely return in mid-to-late December or early January.
Her absence removes Barcelona’s most explosive vertical threat. Salma stretches defences, scores in transition, and provides the power-and-pace element few in Europe can replicate. Without her, Barcelona rely more heavily on positional play and midfield dominance to create chances. Barcelona lost a valuable and arguably their most explosive and unpredictable forward. Paralluelo's power, speed, and exceptional ability to attack open spaces are complex assets to replace.
Patri Guijarro – Stress Fracture in Navicular Bone (Out 12 Weeks)
Patri Guijarro sustained a stress fracture in the navicular bone of her right foot during the 4–0 Champions League win over Roma in mid-November. She was replaced in the 73rd minute, and subsequent tests confirmed an expected absence of around twelve weeks, ruling her out until February 2026.
Guijarro is considered an essential part of the team's tactical setup, known for connecting different parts of the field and providing rhythm and control to the game.
Patri’s loss is tactically significant. She is the team’s most reliable tempo-setter in midfield, press-resistant, intelligent in positioning, and essential in controlling matches. Her absence forces Barcelona to look to younger players such as Clara Serrajordi and Sydney Schertenleib, or to push Laia Aleixandri into midfield, reshaping the team's overall structure.
Formed a crucial and stable midfield trio with Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí. Her injury, followed shortly after by a broken leg sustained by Bonmatí, created a significant void and a serious challenge
Aitana Bonmatí – Broken Fibula (Out 5 Months)
Aitana Bonmatí’s injury is the most severe of the current crisis. She fractured the fibula in her left leg during a Spain training session on 30 November 2025 and underwent surgery on 2 December. The club announced an expected absence of around 5 months, with her return projected for early May 2026. Her injury was likely significantly exacerbated by the constant pressure to perform at the highest level, due to other injuries in the squad.
She immediately missed the second leg of the UEFA Nations League final against Germany, a significant blow to the team. Her teammates have expressed support and the desire to "dedicate victory" to her.
The news has been described as the "worst news" and a "major setback" for the team, which is used to having its star midfielder available for vital matches.
Her absence will be a significant test for Barcelona during crucial stages of their domestic league campaign and the final group stage and potential knockout rounds of the UEFA Women's Champions League, where she is a vital player.
Aitana had already played 15 games this season, 13 as a starter, scoring six goals and providing three assists. Losing the reigning Ballon d’Or winner for almost the rest of the season is a monumental blow. She is the heartbeat of Barcelona’s midfield, driving progression, creating chances, pressing intelligently, and controlling games with her unmatched consistency. Her absence fundamentally changes the team’s identity.
Kika Nazareth – Ligament Sprain (Out 3 Weeks)
Kika Nazareth sprained a ligament in her left ankle while on international duty with Portugal, with Barcelona confirming the injury on 1 December. The expected recovery time is around three weeks, projecting her return for late December or early January. She has made 13 appearances this season, scoring five goals and providing six assists.
Her absence removes another creative option between the lines, someone capable of combining quickly, arriving late into the box, and linking midfield with attack.
To cover for the absences, young players like Vicky López, Sydney Schertenleib, and Clara Serrajordi are likely to see more minutes on the pitch, gaining valuable experience in high-stakes matches.
Esmee Brugts – IT Band Tendinopathy (Short-Term, Return Unknown)
Esmee Brugts is currently sidelined with tendinopathy affecting the iliotibial band area of her right knee. Barcelona announced the issue in early December but did not specify a return date, as recovery depends on how the knee responds to treatment.
Brugts’ absence affects Barcelona’s versatility. She can play as a full-back or midfielder, features heavily in build-up play, and provides energy and balance on the left.
The Impact on the Team
With six senior players unavailable at once, several of them starters, Barcelona are operating with a significantly disrupted midfield, reduced width, and less rotation capacity.
Their absence is felt more this season than ever before, given the squad's minuscule size, a result of financial restrictions that prevent them from keeping players and bringing in new stars. They only signed Laia Aleixandri on a free from Manchester City.
The lack of depth has been seen this season with a 1-1 draw to Chelsea, the first time they have not won at the Bridge, and only back in April, they beat them 8-2 on aggregate.
The team failed to score in a Spanish Liga F match for the first time in 2,108 days (nearly 6 years), suffering an unexpected defeat at the hands of Real Sociedad.
Barcelona's incredibly dominant women's team suffered its earliest Liga F defeat in 11 years on Sunday, losing 1-0 to Real Sociedad.
This loss represented just a fifth league loss for the Catalans since the beginning of the 2019-20 season.
The midfield, usually their greatest strength, now lacks its entire controlling core: Aitana, Patri, and sometimes Kika. In attack, Salma's absence removes stretch, pace, and unpredictability. Defensively, missing Batlle reduces security and progression on the right, while Brugts’ flexibility is also lost.
Who Barcelona Will Rely On: Alexia Putellas and Clàudia Pina
Alexia Putellas
Alexia becomes the crucial stabilising force in this period. With experience, leadership, and an unmatched ability to control tempo in advanced areas, she steps into the dual role of creator and captain. Without Aitana and Patri, she becomes the primary reference point for possession, chance creation, and emotional leadership. She carries the responsibility of guiding a much-younger midfield around her and ensuring Barcelona’s identity remains intact. Alexia Putellas brings
world-class technical skill, unparalleled game intelligence, leadership, and a relentless drive for success to Barcelona, dictating play from midfield as an engine of attack, scoring and assisting, and serving as an inspirational, record-breaking figure. She controls the tempo, orchestrates attacks, and dictates the flow of the game from a central midfield role, combining technical brilliance with high football IQ. A prolific goalscorer and creator, she provides crucial assists and scores vital goals, helping Barcelona dominate Spanish football. While dominant in the centre, she's capable of influencing play across the pitch, threading inch-perfect passes through compact defences.
Clàudia Pina
Clàudia Pina also becomes essential. Her intelligence between the lines, ability to play as a false nine or attacking midfielder, which adds tactical flexibility, and eye for goal make her one of the most reliable creative solutions in the squad. She showed this immediately when she replaced Salma for Spain and scored twice. Pina brings unpredictability, sharp link-up play, and a rare ability to unlock deep blocks, qualities Barcelona will rely on heavily until their attackers and midfielders return. Clàudia Pina brings technical brilliance, exceptional vision, versatility, and a lethal goalscoring instinct to Barcelona, excelling as an attacking midfielder or forward with a signature long-range shot, quick movement, and the ability to create chances in tight spaces, making her a crucial, dynamic, and creative force for the team. She possesses excellent vision, control in tight spaces, and the ability to play incisive, accurate through balls, pulling defences apart. Pina constantly moves to find pockets of space, drawing defenders and creating openings for herself and teammates. Known for her goalscoring mentality, ability to shoot powerfully and accurately with both feet, and a trademark long-range shot into the top corner. Possesses excellent dribbling skills, composure, and the ability to turn quickly in possession.
Both of these players have been crucial. Putellas has scored five goals this season, while Pina, with nine, brings a different level to the side.
Add comment
Comments