Barcelona´s Balde an injury doubt for Copa del Rey final

Barcelona confirmed left-back Alejandro Balde has sustained a left hamstring injury ahead of an important run of games.

The LaLiga leaders face Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday, following a huge 4-0 win in Barcelona in the first, with the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid taking place on April 26.

Spanish media reports say Balde will be out for at least three weeks to recover, which would also see him miss league games against Celta Vigo and Real Mallorca.

He had started Barcelona’s 1-0 victory over Leganes on Saturday, but was forced off in the 41st minute after sustaining the injury.

Balde has made 43 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona this season, starting 39 of those matches. He has scored one goal and provided eight assists, with only Raphinha (20) and Lamine Yamal (17) setting up more (Fermin Lopez and Jules Kounde also have eight).

“Tests carried out on Sunday morning on the first team player Alejandro Balde confirm that he has a distal injury to his left hamstring,” Barcelona said in a statement.

“His return to action with the first team will depend on his recovery.”

Barcelona lead LaLiga with 70 points, seven ahead of Real Madrid, who play their game in hand against Deportivo Alaves on Sunday.