Jules Kounde to miss Inter Milan return leg and El Clasico clash with Real Madrid | OneFootball

Barcelona defender Jules Kounde pulled up during their dramatic 3–3 draw with Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-final first leg last night.

According to Sport, the early diagnosis is troubling enough to rule Kounde out of three crucial games.

The former Sevilla man will miss Barcelona’s upcoming La Liga clash with Real Valladolid, the second leg against Inter Milan, and the El Clasico showdown with Real Madrid.

The Blaugrana twice clawed their way back from behind in an intense encounter, but defensive lapses from set-pieces scuppered their hopes of victory.

The French defender has been a key figure for manager Hansi Flick this season, and fans have been worried about the lack of a deputy at right-back.

Their worst fears came to pass as he could not continue and had to be replaced by Eric Garcia.

Garcia managed to hold his own in the unfamiliar right-back role, but the sight of Kounde limping off the pitch cast a shadow over the evening.

Initial assessments suggest that Kounde has sustained a muscle injury. His situation is likely more severe than a minor strain.

He is scheduled to undergo further tests on Thursday to determine the full extent of the damage, but he is set for an extended spell on the sidelines.

Barcelona will rue their missed opportunity to defeat Inter on home soil. The Nerazzurri came into the game off the back of three losses, with talisman Lautaro Martinez misfiring.

However, Barca orchestrated their misfortune, making mistakes at the back to give Inter the chance to snatch a draw.

Kounde’s absence will be a massive blow for Barca and give Inter a weak point to exploit.