Barcelona winger Ansu Fati is reduced to tears after coming off with another injury setback in Copa del Rey loss to Athletic Bilbao… after the teenage winger thought he had put a horror 18 months on the treatment table behind him
- Barcelona’s Ansu Fati came off injured in the Copa del Rey loss to Athletic Bilbao
- The 19-year-old was reduced to tears at the thought of another injury setback
- Fati has only just come back from a horror 18 month spell on the treatment table
- The attacker had to be consoled by Barcelona boss Xavi and Athletic’s Marcelino
Barcelona star Ansu Fati faces the prospect of another prolonged period on the treatment table after hobbling off in tears in the Catalans’ Copa del Rey loss to Athletic Bilbao.
The 19-year-old winger, who missed most of last season with a long-term knee injury, pulled up on Thursday night with what could be a reoccurrence of a hamstring problem which had kept him out for eight matches this winter.
Fati had to be consoled by manager Xavi and his opposite number Marcelino of Athletic, as the teenager struggled to fight the waterworks at the thought of another setback.
Barcelona’s Ansu Fati (right) was reduced to tears after coming off with another injury
Fati had to be consoled by Xavi (left) after he exited Barcelona’s Copa del Rey loss to Athletic
Barcelona will be hoping that Fati’s prognosis is not severe as the attacker looks to put together a run of games for their star man who signed a six-year deal last October.
Despite constant injury setbacks, the Spanish international has been in excellent form for the Catalans when he has played. Fati has three goals in five LaLiga games and five in ten in all competitions.
But his chances of silverware were severely damaged on Thursday night as Xavi’s Barcelona crashed out of the Copa del Rey via an extra-time defeat to Athletic.
New Catalans striker Ferran Torres cancelled out Iker Munain’s early opener but Inigo Martinez put Athletic in front on 86 minutes.
Teenage winger Fati has struggled with knee and hamstring problems over the last 18 months
Barcelona youngster Pedri equalised for the club deep into stoppage time to force extra-time, but Munain scored a penalty towards the end of the first 15-minute period.
The Catalans’ trophy hopes now rest solely in the Europa League, though Barcelona have a tricky test against Italian side Napoli in the first knockout round.
Barcelona are well and truly out of the LaLiga title race as they sit in sixth place and 17 points behind leaders and rivals Real Madrid.
Xavi’s side were also beaten by Real in the Super Cup semi-final earlier this month, while they also race a fight to qualify for the top four in Spain’s top-flight this term.
The Catalans are one point behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid, though Real Sociedad are level on points with Diego Simeone’s side in fifth.
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