Barcelona’s Spanish defender #12 Xavi Espart celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League first round day 3 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and FC Barcelona at the Parc de Princes stadium in Paris on October 20, 2026. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP via Getty Images)
Gill Clark Gill Clark is the site manager of Barca Blaugranes and joined in 2017. She has worked in sports media as a writer and editor for the best part of two decades and has been in love with the beautiful game for as long as she can remember.
Xavi Espart has sent out an upbeat message despite being sidelined for seven weeks with an ankle injury sustained in Sunday’s Clasico defeat to Real Madrid.
It’s a tough blow for the Barcelona teenager who has been in impressive form in the early weeks of the campaign after breaking into the first team.
He’s now facing the best part of two months out of action but is already thinking about when he can return.
“Sad for the defeat, with only one idea in mind: to come back as soon as possible, the better. They can’t handle us. Força Barça!” he posted on Instagram.
Espart will be missed by Barcelona in the coming weeks and Hansi Flick will be hoping that Eric Garcia and Jules Kounde can return soon from injury.
It’s hoped that Kounde will be fit for Saturday’s La Liga clash with Alaves. Joao Cancelo and Alejandro Balde are Flick’s other full-back options for the match.