Barcelona's midfield woes have deepened with the news that Pedri will be sidelined for approximately four weeks due to a hamstring injury. The injury occurred during their Champions League clash against Slavia Prague on Wednesday, a match they won 4-2. The club officially confirmed the injury, specifying it as a muscle injury in the biceps femoris of his right leg.

This latest setback is a significant blow for both the player and the team. Pedri, a key component of Barcelona's midfield, has already faced several spells on the sidelines due to similar issues. This season alone, he has missed seven games for Barcelona and Spain because of a hamstring injury sustained in late October, and he also sat out Barcelona’s final game of 2025 with a muscular overload. His absence will undoubtedly be felt in the upcoming matches.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick acknowledged the significance of Pedri's absence, stating that it "is not good news". Flick also praised Dani Olmo, who replaced Pedri and scored a goal in the game against Slavia Prague, as well as Marcus Rashford and Marc Bernal. Despite the win against Slavia Prague, Flick could not hide his dismay at seeing Pedri leave the pitch. He expressed concern about how the team would cope without Pedri's "sense of calm and control" in midfield.

The timeline suggests Pedri will miss several crucial matches, including their final Champions League league stage fixture at home against Copenhagen. He is also expected to be absent for La Liga fixtures against Real Oviedo, Elche, and Mallorca, as well as a Copa del Rey quarter-final against Albacete. In addition to Pedri's absence, Frenkie de Jong will also miss the Copenhagen match due to suspension, further compounding Barcelona's midfield problems.

Flick has several options to fill the void left by Pedri. These include Eric Garcia, who has previously been shifted forward from defense, as well as Marc Casado and Marc Bernal. While Garcia is comfortable on the ball and defensively sound, he lacks the same tempo control as Pedri.

Pedri's injury is particularly concerning given his history with hamstring issues. The club will be hoping that this latest setback is not a long-term one, as his presence in midfield is vital to their ambitions in both domestic and European competitions. The 23-year-old had started in 24 matches for Barcelona this season, and has scored four goals. Barcelona will have to find solutions quickly to navigate this challenging period without one of their key players.