Copa del Rey: FC Barcelona dealt major injury setback ahead of Atlético Madrid semi-final return leg

FC Barcelona have been handed a significant fitness blow prior to their decisive second-leg clash against Atlético Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-finals.

The Catalan side are already facing an uphill battle after falling 4-1 in the opening encounter, and their hopes of staging a dramatic comeback have now been complicated by the absence of experienced forward Robert Lewandowski.

The striker has been ruled out of the return fixture after sustaining a fracture to his left eye socket.

Official confirmation from Barcelona

The development was confirmed by the club on Sunday in an official statement.

According to the announcement, Lewandowski picked up the injury during Barcelona’s recent outing against Villarreal. Subsequent medical examinations revealed a break in his left eye socket, making him unavailable for the upcoming showdown against Atlético Madrid.

As a result, the Polish international will not feature in the crucial semi-final second leg.

Impact on Barcelona’s attacking options

Although the 37-year-old has not been a regular starter throughout the current campaign, largely due to tactical decisions by head coach Hansi Flick, his absence still represents a setback.

Flick has frequently deployed Ferran Torres in a central attacking role this season, limiting Lewandowski’s minutes on the pitch. However, the veteran striker reminded fans of his value by finding the net in Barcelona’s commanding 4-1 victory over Villarreal on Saturday.

With Barcelona needing a significant turnaround to overturn the 4-1 deficit from the first leg, Lewandowski’s injury removes an experienced goal-scoring option at a critical moment in their Copa del Rey campaign.