Frenkie de Jong has been ruled out with injury as Barcelona were dealt a big blow ahead of the Champions League last 16 draw.
De Jong, who has captained Hansi Flick’s side in recent weeks, will be sidelined for five to six weeks after injuring the distal biceps femoris in his hamstring, the club confirmed on Thursday.
It will mean that the midfielder will miss both legs of Barca’s last 16 tie, as well as the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final against Atletico Madrid, where they are 4-0 down on aggregate.
❗️Medical report
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 26, 2026
First-team player Frenkie de Jong sustained an injury to the distal biceps of his right leg during this morning’s training session.
Medical tests have confirmed that the expected recovery period will be approximately five to six weeks. pic.twitter.com/2irBhMoAG2
He could also miss the league trip to the Wanda Metropolitano in April.
The Catalans are awaiting Friday’s draw to find out their first knockout round opponents, and they could face either Newcastle United or Paris Saint-Germain.
Both the Magpies and the current Champions League holders booked their place in the last 16 with play-off victories over Qarabag and Monaco respectively on Wednesday.
Barcelona and Chelsea are seeded fifth and sixth in the competition bracket, and, ahead of the draw, it means that they both sit on the same two branches of the tournament tree.
That therefore means that whichever side Barcelona get drawn against, then Chelsea will take on the other team in that equation.
Hence, if Barca draw Paris, then Newcastle will meet Liam Rosenior’s side in an all-Premier League showdown.
How to watch Champions League draw
TV channel: In the UK, the draw will be live on TNT Sports 1.
Live stream: You can also watch the draw online via the Discovery+ app and website with a subscription, as well as on the TNT Sports YouTube channel. The draw also will be streamed live on UEFA’s website, YouTube channel and the Champions League app.
