Alejandro Balde Ruled Out of Copa del Rey Final: Major Setback for Barcelona

When a star player goes down just as the season reaches its tense peak, nerves start to fray—not just in the dressing room but across the entire fanbase. That’s exactly what’s happening at Barcelona right now after Alejandro Balde suffered a distal injury in his left hamstring during the first half of a gritty 1-0 win over Leganés on April 13. The 21-year-old left-back, who’s become a key attacking outlet for the club, limped off before halftime, and follow-up medical scans confirmed what many feared: he won’t be back in time for that mouthwatering Copa del Rey final showdown against Real Madrid on April 26.

This injury has thrown a spanner in Barça’s late-season plans. The team’s packed schedule doesn’t leave much room for error, and missing Balde hits hard. He’s not just a defender you can quietly replace—his season tally of 1 goal and 10 assists across 43 games is proof of his output in attack and reliability in defense. Watching how many Barcelona moves flow down the left when Balde’s on the pitch, you realize just how much work he puts in. Now, as Barça chase both league points and European glory, the coaching staff is scrambling to adjust.

Manager Hansi Flick isn’t giving too much away. "We’ll have to see how his recovery progresses day by day," is about all he’s told the press so far. The medics suggest Balde could return in early May at the soonest, with a realistic target being the La Liga clash against Real Valladolid or possibly a Champions League semifinal—if Barcelona make it that far. “Cautious” is probably an understatement here. Rushing a hamstring injury rarely ends well, especially for a player who relies on bursts of acceleration and agility down the flank.

Balde’s Absence: Opportunity or Headache for Gerard Martín?

So who steps in during this crunch period? That responsibility falls to 23-year-old Gerard Martín. But Martín, despite being a solid squad player, has only started 10 of his 31 appearances this season. That means he’s been more of a backup than a regular. Now the pressure is on him to cover in matches that aren’t just routine league fixtures, but season-defining showdowns: facing Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and that fiery final against Real Madrid, plus tricky games against Celta Vigo and Mallorca.

Barcelona have no illusions about how much is riding on this period. The club’s medical and coaching teams are in close contact, tracking Balde’s rehabilitation every step of the way. The fans are restless too—they know Balde’s speed and crossing are nightmare weapons for any opponent. And with every missed game, the stakes get higher. If the recovery roadmap holds, Barcelona might get Balde back just in time for the stretch run, but no one is getting their hopes up too soon.

What is certain is that every fixture missed adds another layer of uncertainty to Barcelona’s hunt for trophies. For now, the left-back position is a story of changing roles, day-by-day medical bulletins, and plenty of crossed fingers.