FC Barcelona risk losing Spain international left back Alejandro Balde for the next three weeks after he suffered a muscle injury in his side's 1-0 win away to Leganes on Saturday night.

Julian Ryerson (L) of Borussia Dortmund vies with Alejandro Balde of Barcelona during the UEFA Champions League match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Barcelona in Dortmund, Germany, Dec. 11, 2024. (Photo by Joachim Bywaletz/Xinhua)

Balde was forced off in the first half of the game and replaced by Gerard Martin after going down in a challenge on Leganes forward Adria Altimira and TV cameras captured him saying "I'm injured" to the Barca dugout.

"Tests carried out on Sunday morning on the first team player Alejandro Balde confirm that he has a distal injury to his left hamstring. His return to action with the first team will depend on his recovery," reports the FC Barcelona website.

The injury means Balde will miss Tuesday's Champions League visit to play Borussia Dortmund, where Barcelona defends a 4-0 first-leg lead, as well as La Liga games against Celta Vigo and Mallorca.

However, arguably the biggest game he looks set to miss in on April 26th when Barca plays Real Madrid in the final of the Copa del Rey in the Estadio de la Cartuja in Seville.

Martin has filled in well when Barca coach Hansi Flick has looked to rest Balde, and will now see his role in the team increase in the coming weeks.

Balde has so far made 37 starts in 42 first team appearances for Barca this season. 

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