Shooting star Bernal will be absent for a long time after surgery

Marc Bernal will be out for at least twelve months. © Getty Images

Actually, everything is going according to plan at FC Barcelona under Hansi Flick. After the first four match days, the club is at the top of the Spanish La Liga table with twelve points, four points ahead of Real Madrid. But shortly before the first international break of the season, Barça received bad news, which somewhat dampened their joy.

Homegrown player Marc Bernal injured his knee in injury time of the match against Rayo Vallecano (2:1) and was unable to leave the pitch without help. After Flick feared the worst immediately after the game, the horror diagnosis of a torn cruciate ligament was confirmed shortly afterwards, and the lateral meniscus was also affected.

Now Barça has announced that the shooting star has undergone successful knee surgery and is now going into rehab. The Catalans are therefore expecting him to be out for at least twelve months. This means that Flick will be without an important pillar of central midfield for almost the entire season.

Marc Bernal has torn his cruciate ligament. © Maciej Rogowski Photo / Shutterstock.com

Barça expects two returnees in midfield

Bernal only made the jump to the first team this summer and was in the starting eleven for the first three match days. Flick made no secret of the fact that Bernal plays an important role in his plans – now the 59-year-old has to change his plans.

At least the Barça coach can hope for the return of Frenkie de Jong and Gavi soon. The Dutchman is expected back at the end of September after a long-term ankle injury. Gavi, who like Bernal suffered a cruciate ligament tear, should be available again at the end of October according to AS. The gap in the central midfield could therefore soon be filled again – at least in part.