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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Jonathan Gorrie

Barcelona hit by another key injury blow with Pedri a doubt for Manchester United return

Pedri is a doubt for Barcelona’s trip to Manchester United next week.

The club confirmed on Friday that tests revealed that their top playmaker had injured his right hamstring during Thursday’s 2-2 draw against United in the first leg of their Europa League playoff. He was replaced in the 41st minute of Thursday’s game at Camp Nou.

Xavi Hernández’s team face Cadiz in LaLiga on Sunday. Then comes the second game against United on Thursday, a league match at Almeria on Feb. 26, and the opening game of its Copa del Rey semifinal against Madrid on March 2.

Besides providing the key component to their passing attack, Pedri has played the most minutes of any outfield player for Barcelona this season while contributing seven goals. The 20-year-old Spain international has become a decisive scorer in recent weeks, notching winners in three 1-0 victories over Getafe, Girona and Villarreal to keep Barcelona in the lead of the Spanish league.

He joins fellow midfielder Sergio Busquets and winger Ousmane Dembélé on the injured list.

Pedri’s absence may mean that Xavi will have to revert to a 4-3-3 lineup with three midfielders from the 4-4-2 he had been favoring recently.

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