Barcelona’s emotional return to the newly revamped Spotify Camp Nou was supposed to be an evening filled with celebration, nostalgia, and excitement.
Yet the joy of stepping back into their historic home was briefly overshadowed by a worrying moment involving Alejandro Balde.
The young full-back went down unexpectedly during the match against Athletic Club, leaving the stadium anxious as medical staff rushed to attend to him.
Fortunately for the club and its supporters, AS later reported that the issue is not considered serious, and Balde is expected to be fit in time for Barcelona’s Champions League meeting with Chelsea next week.
What happened to Balde?
The incident itself unfolded in dramatic fashion. Balde collapsed after receiving a heavy blow to the neck during the first half, prompting immediate medical attention from club doctor Ricard Pruna.
Despite the impact, the defender managed to continue until the break, which initially eased some concerns.
Alejandro Balde, Barcelona player
Alejandro Balde was replaced at half-time. (Photo by Paul Miller/Getty Images)
However, once the players returned to the dressing room, Balde began to feel dizzy again. The medical team, not willing to take any unnecessary risks, opted to remove him from the match for precautionary reasons.
The outlet later clarified that the setback was not serious and that Barcelona fully expect him to make the trip to London.
Interestingly, the player who stepped in for Balde, Gerard Martin, also left the pitch with a physical issue of his own. In his case, though, the problem was far less alarming.
The discomfort he felt was simply the result of fatigue-related cramps, a common occurrence given the intensity of the occasion and the demands of the match.
Looking ahead to the clash against Chelsea, Barcelona find themselves monitoring two other important names: Marcus Rashford and Pedri.
While the former’s return is still unknown, the latter is most likely expected to miss the Champions League game.