Barcelona secured a huge 5-2 victory over rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday evening, giving them not only a title but also a morale-boosting victory after a difficult start to the year. However, it did not happen without costs.
Not only do they lose Wojciech Szczesny to a suspension for the next Copa del Rey match against Real Betis, but Hansi Flick will also have to make do without Inigo Martinez for the next five weeks. Sport reports that he will be out of action due to a hamstring tear, which he suffered in the first half which forced him off, with Martinez replaced by Ronald Araujo.
It leaves Flick one of his regular starters for a busy period in the calendar. In total, Martinez will miss nine matches if the recovery time is correct: Real Betis in the Copa del Rey (H), Getafe (A), Benfica (A), Valencia (H), Atalanta (H), Alaves (H), Sevilla ( A), Rayo Vallecano (H) and Las Palmas (A). He would also miss the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey if Barcelona were to get past Real Betis in the Copa.
Araujo was excellent after coming on for Martinez, but with the Uruguayan potentially leaving the club during the transfer window, Flick could be left somewhat wanting. Currently, Sergi Dominguez or Eric Garcia could come in for the Basque defender as an alternative to Araujo, while Andreas Christensen is also expected to return from injury soon.
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