Barcelona are likely to be without Jules Kounde for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final tie against Inter due to a hamstring injury.
Kounde, 26, was forced off on the stroke of half time during Wednesday’s first leg and was replaced by Eric Garcia.
Barcelona played the entire second half with a backline consisting of four centre-backs after left-back Gerard Martin was substituted at the break, with Ronald Araujo deputising in his absence.
Club sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, indicated Kounde is unlikely to be fit for the second leg at San Siro on May 6.
Speaking at full time, Barca head coach Hansi Flick suggested the defender’s injury was a result of the congested fixture schedule.
“It’s not easy, when you play every three days, to train things like you want,” Flick said. “But this is the situation. Kounde’s injury is also about playing every three days. It happens. But the team did their best.”
Barcelona were also without striker Robert Lewandowski and defender Alejandro Balde for Wednesday’s game, with the pair both sidelined with respective hamstring injuries.
Flick added he was hopeful of both players being in contention to return for the second leg but said the club would not take any risks.
“We hope they might have a chance to play in Milan, but we have to wait,” Flick said. “In this situation we can’t do stupid things. If the staff say green light, then they’ll play.”
Wednesday’s fixture finished in a 3-3 draw, as Barcelona recovered from 2-0 and 3-2 down to leave the tie level ahead of next week’s second leg.
Barcelona return to action against already-relegated Real Valladolid in La Liga on Saturday.
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