Barcelona star Andres Iniesta a major doubt for Chelsea clash

Andres Iniesta’s hamstring injury has presented Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde with a midfield crisis ahead of the visit of Chelsea to the Nou Camp next week.

Iniesta was replaced by Andre Gomes on Sunday against Atletico Madrid but the out-of-sorts former Valencia midfielder was whistled by sections of the stadium.

Other options to replace Iniesta include Paulinho and Ousmane Dembele but both are also struggling for form, and Philippe Coutinho is Champions League cup-tied.

Barcelona feared the worst in the first half on Sunday when Iniesta pulled up holding the back of his right thigh. He was able to carry on for another 10 minutes before finally asking to be taken off. The fact that he was able to continue suggested no tear and that came off as a precaution. 

But although the official medical report issued by the club on said Iniesta had a hamstring strain, Marca reported that tests revealed a small tear, who would leave him with little or no chance of returning in time to face Chelsea.

Being without their captain next week would be a major blow because of the scarcity of on-form alternatives.

The captain was replaced by the out-of-favour Andre Gomes, who was booed by a home crowd

Gomes looked nervous every time he touched the ball after replacing Iniesta on 35 minutes and he was not helped by whistles from spectators, who have never really taken to the £27million signing from Valencia.

‘The public can express themselves however they want to,’ said Valverde when asked about the booing. ‘Obviously I prefer it if they get behind the players because it helps them.’ 

The Barcelona coach had both Dembele and Paulinho on the bench on Sunday but the former was not used while the latter came on for the last six minutes. It’s clear Coutinho is ahead of both of them in the new Barcelona pecking order but he cannot face Chelsea.

Paulinho came off the bench for the final six minutes in Sunday’s win over their title rivals

Philippe Coutinho is cup-tied having already featured for Liverpool in the Champions League

Former Manchester City midfielder Denis Suarez is another alternative but he has played no part in the last 13 games. Aleix Vidal also does not seem to have the confidence of the coach. 

He played in the midweek draw with Las Palmas but then was left in the stands for the biggest game of the season against Atletico Madrid.

Without Coutinho, Valverde will have two midfield spots to fill alongside Ivan Rakitic and Sergio Busquets. But he appears to have limited faith in the options available to him.

Chelsea will be wary of writing Iniesta off just yet. Real Madrid had seemingly ruled both Luka Modric and Toni Kroos out of their second leg with Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday but both trained on Sunday and have travelled to France.