Barcelona’s defence faces a significant setback as centre-back Jules Kounde is poised to miss the highly-anticipated Clasico clash against Real Madrid, according to Spanish media reports. The news comes after Barcelona confirmed that Kounde suffered a sprained knee ligament during their recent La Liga match.

Kounde’s injury occurred during Barcelona’s 2-2 draw against Granada when he fell following a collision with teammate Gavi. Reports indicate that the talented defender is expected to be sidelined for approximately one month due to the sprain. This injury compounds Barcelona’s woes as they are already grappling with injuries to key players such as Robert Lewandowski, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, and Raphinha.

Barcelona’s clash with arch-rivals Real Madrid is scheduled for October 28 in La Liga, and it appears increasingly likely that Kounde will be unavailable for this high-stakes encounter. Additionally, he is set to miss the match against Athletic Bilbao on October 22 and a crucial Champions League fixture against Shakhtar Donetsk on October 25. Follow your favourite football team with attractive La Liga odds from Nextbet.

Kounde’s absence is a significant blow for Barcelona, given his impressive performances at centre-back this season. He had previously been used out of position at right-back during the bulk of the previous campaign but had seamlessly transitioned into a key role in the heart of the defence.

In addition to his club commitments, Kounde will also be unavailable for the French national team. He was expected to feature in France’s Euro 2024 qualifier against the Netherlands on Friday and a friendly match against Scotland next Tuesday. France is already missing Arsenal defender William Saliba due to a toe injury, and Les Bleus coach Didier Deschamps replaced him with Jean-Clair Todibo on Sunday.

The injury to Kounde is a setback for both Barcelona and the French national team, and fans will be anxiously awaiting updates on his recovery timeline as the club and country face important fixtures in the coming weeks. Get the latest updates from the world of football only on Nextbet Sports.