'Not feeling well at all' - Major blow for Barcelona as one of their key players is set to miss crunch Champions League second leg vs Inter due to injury suffered at worst possible time

Barcelona’s injury concerns deepened on Wednesday as Jules Kounde was forced to leave the pitch before half-time during their clash with Inter in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final. The French right-back appeared in visible discomfort, prompting fears within the club that he could be sidelined for an extended period, potentially missing next week's return leg at San Siro.

Kounde has become an indispensable member of Hansi Flick's unit, carving out a reputation as one of the best right-backs in world football. Having shown that he can be relied upon at all times, the Frenchman's injury and potential absence against the Nerazzurri next week is a blow to the Catalans as they look to win their first Champions League title in a decade. Indeed, Kounde's unavailability couldn't have come at a worse time, with Flick dealing with the absence of left-back Alejandro Balde, too.

Before leaving the stadium, Kounde gave the reporters in the mixed zone a gist of how he was doing following the injury. "I'm not feeling well at all," he said (h/t MARCA).

Kounde played 104 straight games for club and country before being rested for Barca's La Liga clash against Mallorca late in April. Not only that, the versatile defender's hamstring issue is his first injury since he suffered a knee problem back in October 2023.

Initial scans, according to MARCA, indicate a tear in Kounde's hamstring, which means that he'll not only miss next week's return leg at San Siro, but also the Clasico, which is slated to be played on May 11. Indeed, Barca are currently four points ahead of Real Madrid in the Liga table, with five games to go.