TL;DR
- Barcelona’s 17-year-old defender Pau Cubarsi suffered a facial injury after being kicked in the face during their 5-2 Champions League win over Crvena zvezda.
- Cubarsi required 10 stitches and was substituted in the 67th minute, but manager Hansi Flick confirmed he is recovering well.
- Barcelona’s goals were scored by Inigo Martinez, Raphinha, Fermín Lopez, and Robert Lewandowski (2), continuing their strong form under Flick.
- Barcelona now sits sixth in the Champions League group stage and maintains an eight-point lead over Real Madrid in La Liga.
Barcelona’s resounding 5-2 victory over Crvena zvezda in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night was marred by a serious injury to their young defender, Pau Cubarsi. The 17-year-old was forced off the pitch after suffering a gruesome facial injury during the second half of the match in Belgrade.
The incident occurred in the 65th minute when Cubarsi bent down to head a ball clear in his own penalty area. As he did so, he was struck in the face by the boot of Crvena zvezda’s Uros Spajic, who had attempted to make contact with the ball. Instead, Spajic’s studs caught Cubarsi on the side of his face, leaving him bloodied and requiring immediate medical attention.
Barcelona’s medical staff quickly attended to the young defender, and after stopping the bleeding, it was determined that Cubarsi needed 10 stitches to close the deep gash on his jawline. He was substituted shortly after, with Sergi Dominguez coming on in his place in the 67th minute.
Following the match, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick confirmed that while Cubarsi had sustained a significant injury, he was expected to recover quickly. “He needed stitches,” Flick said during his post-match interview. “But he’s fine.” The club later shared an image of Cubarsi smiling and giving a thumbs-up on social media, reassuring fans of his condition.
Despite this unfortunate incident, Barcelona continued their dominant form under Flick, securing their third consecutive Champions League victory. Goals from Inigo Martinez, Raphinha, Fermín Lopez, and a brace from Robert Lewandowski ensured a comfortable win for Barcelona, who now sit sixth in the Champions League standings.
Cubarsi’s injury is a reminder of the physical risks players face in high-contact situations. However, his resilience has been widely praised. The defender has been a rising star for Barcelona since making his senior debut at just 16 years old and has consistently impressed with his performances this season. While it remains unclear whether he will require additional protection, such as a facial shield, for upcoming matches, Barcelona is optimistic about his swift return to action.
In La Liga, Barcelona also continues to impress. They hold an eight-point lead over arch-rivals Real Madrid after a commanding 4-0 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu last month. With their Champions League campaign back on track and domestic form remaining strong, Flick expressed confidence in his team’s ability to maintain momentum throughout the season. “What mattered was winning,” Flick said after Wednesday’s match. “It’s not easy to win away in Europe. I hope we can keep this rhythm up for the whole season.”
As Barcelona looks ahead to their next fixtures, all eyes will be on Cubarsi’s recovery and whether he can return to help solidify their defense as they push for success both domestically and in Europe.
