Big win, bad news! Pedri injury threatens Barcelona’s Champions League top eight hopes

Barcelona kept their Champions League hopes alive with an important 4-2 win over Slavia Prague, but the result came at a cost as Pedri was forced off with a suspected hamstring injury. While the three points strengthened their push toward automatic qualification, uncertainty now surrounds one of the club’s most influential players.

The match began in difficult conditions, with freezing temperatures greeting both sides in Prague. Slavia struck first through Vasil Kusej, briefly putting Barcelona under pressure. However, the visitors responded impressively, led by Fermin Lopez, who continued his breakout European campaign with two first-half goals. Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski also found the net in a game filled with momentum swings.

Despite the attacking success, attention quickly shifted after halftime when Pedri was unable to continue. The midfielder had been a key figure since Hansi Flick took charge in 2024, enjoying a sustained period of fitness after earlier injury struggles in his career. Flick admitted after the game that the situation did not look encouraging, confirming that Pedri would undergo further tests to assess the damage.

Barcelona have already been here before this season, with Pedri missing several matches due to similar muscle issues. His absence could not come at a worse time, as the club approaches the decisive stage of the league phase with qualification still undecided.

On the pitch, Barcelona showed resilience. Olmo, introduced to replace Pedri, made an immediate impact by restoring the lead just after the hour mark. Lewandowski later added a fourth goal to seal the victory and atone for an earlier own goal that had allowed Slavia back into the contest.

The win lifted Barcelona to ninth place in the standings, leaving them just outside the top eight ahead of the final round of fixtures. Under the new Champions League format, finishing inside the top eight guarantees a direct route to the round of 16, while teams placed ninth to 24th must compete in a demanding knockout play-off.

Next week, Barcelona host Copenhagen knowing that another win will likely be enough to secure automatic qualification. Flick acknowledged the challenge ahead, noting potential absences through injury and suspension. However, he also pointed to the return of Lamine Yamal as a significant boost.

After a slow start to their European campaign, Barcelona now stand one match away from reaching their objective. Whether they can do so without Pedri may prove decisive in determining how far their Champions League journey can go.