IVAN RAKITIC faces a lay-off for Barcelona – after breaking his finger against Roma but carrying on for the whole match.
The Croatian midfielder went through the pain barrier on the field like Barca fans did off it – but for very different reasons.
The Spanish giants’ shocking night was compounded by the news the 30-year-old will need surgery on his finger.
While Barcelona supporters were reeling after a 3-0 battering meant a Champions League quarter-final KO on away goals, Rakitic was nursing an unusual injury for a footballer.
And Barca said today they are unsure how long he will be out for.
The runaway La Liga leaders are already facing fitness doubts over defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets.
The Spain star was taken off after 85 minutes in Rome after playing in a reinforced boot following three weeks out with a toe problem
But now it seems the 29-year-old might need another break.
FFP’D OFF PSG ‘set to fail Financial Fair Play’ after sponsorship figures found to be ‘overstated’
Busquets, though, was one of the first Barcelona players to admit they were overwhelmed and outplayed as Roma produced one of the greatest ever Champions League comebacks.
After describing the Euro exit as one of the worst moments of his career, Busquets said: “They pinned us back and we didn’t know how to react, how to create chances.
“We were poorly positioned… it was everything [that was wrong].
“And in the end, they got the result and we didn’t.
“It’s a sad way to go out, especially after the result we had in the first leg.
most read in football
“But [the game] went badly, Roma were superior in every way. It’s a really sad night, it’s disappointing for all of us.”
Barca, though, need just ten points from their last seven games to clinch their domestic title.
Ernesto Valverde’s men start that run-in at home to Valencia on Saturday.
Leave a comment