Bold reality check: Barcelona’s latest win comes with a heavy price. Barcelona beat Atlético Madrid at Spotify Camp Nou, but the victory is shadowed by injury news that could derail their plans as the season progresses. Dani Olmo left the pitch with a shoulder injury after scoring the second goal, and it’s now confirmed he’ll be sidelined for an extended period.
Olmo’s shoulder dislocation occurred as he clipped the ball past Atlético goalkeeper Jan Oblak. The pain was immediate, prompting Hansi Flick to substitute him right away. Sport reports suggest Olmo will miss the rest of the year, with Barcelona already planning around the setback.
There’s a real worry for Barcelona beyond the immediate absence: Olmo has history with shoulder problems. In 2023, a dislocation required surgery and kept him out for about two months. That history raises concerns that a recurrence could threaten his availability during Barcelona’s title push in La Liga.
Prior to the injury, Olmo had hit a rich vein of form, scoring twice against Alavés at the weekend and again against Atlético. The setback compounds issues for Flick, who also has Fermín López sidelined with his own injury. That leaves Pedri as the most likely natural attacking midfielder option, with Dro Fernández stepping up as a young alternative.
Looking ahead to the weekend clash with Betis, Flick faces a tactical crossroad. He could deploy Pedri higher up the pitch and pair Frenkie de Jong with Eric García in a deeper midfield role, or he might move Raphinha into a central position, potentially unlocking a return to the starting lineup for Marcus Rashford. Either approach hinges on fitness updates and squad depth in the coming days.
