Vermaelen injury news: Thomas Vermaelen suffered an injury during Belgium’s Nations League fixture against Switzerland.
Barcelona are struggling in the La Liga at the moment. The Catalan club dropped to second place in the league last weekend as they were held to a draw by Valencia. Sevilla have surprisingly taken the lead in the La Liga table.
Barca were benefitted from Real Madrid’s slump in form, but face a tough time in the league themselves.
Barcelona are winless since their last four matches in La Liga, and suffered a stunning defeat to the-then bottom-placed side Leganes last month.
International break couldn’t have come at a better time for the La Liga giants, as players return to start afresh in the domestic season.
The Catalonians are also facing a defensive crisis. Samuel Umtiti suffered a knee injury, and is reportedly out for the rest of the year. Gerard Pique started the season poorly and is still struggling with form, while new signing Clement Lenglet is yet to establish his place in the side. Now, Thomas Vermaelen is the latest to add to the injury list.
Thomas Vermaelen injury update:
The Belgian central defender featured in Belgium’s match against Switzerland this week during the international break. However, Vermaelen was substituted off the pitch in the 73rd minute of the game with an injury.
❗MEDICAL REPORT: Thomas Vermaelen has a right hamstring injury. More details forthcoming. pic.twitter.com/mmACSOkstV
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 15, 2018
Barcelona have now confirmed that the Belgian centre-back will be on the sidelines for six weeks. This is Vermaelen’s ninth injury since joining the Catalan club in 2014. The Belgian defender has played only 27 La Liga games since signing for Barca.
More problems for Barcelona: Vermaelen injured whilst playing for Belgium.
During the Belgium-Switzerland match on Friday night in Brussels, Thomas Vermaelen was injured, giving Barcelona a huge headache.#Barcelona #vermaelen #Belgium pic.twitter.com/4Bo595UqZQ
— Football World (@Footballworld78) October 13, 2018
His injury leaves Barcelona with only two fit central defenders – Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet. The international break ends next week, and Barcelona will return to La Liga action on October 21.
Man, we’re left with only 2 CBs now.
Umtiti and Vermaelen injured.
One of Vidal, Rakitic, Busquets transforming into a CB till New Year.
Another option is to call up Cuenca from Barça B (he’s been quite off form lately tho).
Signing a CB (right footed preferably) is a must.— Sᴇʀɢɪ’s Rᴜɴs ☢️ (@Robertonical) October 12, 2018
What next?
Barcelona faces a tough set of fixtures ahead, which include the return to La Liga against table-toppers Sevilla, a Champions League game against Inter Milan and the El Clasico on October 28.
📰 [Mirror] | Barca to move for Alderweireld in January
🔶 The Mirror reckon that Barca are keen on the Belgian ‘Spurs’ player because of injuries to Samuel Umtiti and Thomas Vermaelen, and also due to the fact that Ajax have ruled out selling Matthijs de Ligt in January. pic.twitter.com/bGfuyAp1Mm
— BarcaTimes (@BarcaTimes) October 16, 2018
The club is also active in the transfer market, according to reports. Various media outlets have linked Barcelona with a move for Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt.
