Barcelona wants to win the Copa del Rey this weekend, but they will have to do it without one of their most important starters for the Showdown event against Real Madrid in La Cartuja.
Against Leganes earlier this month, Alejandro Bald in the first half was forced after a muscle injury. Barcelona confirmed that the 21-year-old had suffered a hamstring problem at Butarque, and that meant that his involvement in the final of the Copa del Rey was questioned, but within Can Barca was still hope that he would be available.
But this is now extinguished. According to Diario, Barcelona has given up the hope that Balde will be available this weekend to face Real Madrid opposite Real Madrid, and instead they have established a new earliest return date.
Barcelona now hopes that Balde will get the medical green light for the Semi-Final first leg of next week's Champions League against Inter Milan. Hansi Flick is determined to have his starting left back available in the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Company, while he is less prepared to rush Robert Lewandowski, who also injured his hamstring in the victory against Celta Vigo last weekend.
Balke is being replaced by one by Gerard Martin or Hector Fort against Real Madrid. The first was left through the backup throughout the season, despite a series of questionable versions, but that can be threatened after an impressive Fort display in Barcelona's victory over Mallorca on Tuesday.
There is no doubt that Balke is a huge loss for Barcelona. He is one of their most consistent artists since the beginning of 2025, so those who replace him has to increase to a large extent to stop who starts for Real Madrid on the right wing in La Cartuja, which is probably Rodrygo or Federico Valverde.