Jules Kounde likely to miss El Clasico with hamstring injury
By Sean Walsh
Barcelona have confirmed that Jules Kounde has picked up a hamstring injury while away on international duty and is now a doubt to face rivals Real Madrid next month.
Kounde played just 23 minutes of France's 2-0 win against Austria in the Nations League on Thursday before pulling up and being replaced by William Saliba.
In a statement released on Saturday morning, Barcelona confirmed that Kounde has undergone tests and is now set for a spell on the sidelines.
"Tests on Saturday morning have confirmed that Jules Kounde has a biceps femoris injury in his left hamstring. As a result he is unavailable for selection until he recovers," the statement read.
While Barcelona have not put a public timeframe on Kounde's recovery, AS report that he is likely to miss their trip to Real Madrid on 16 October.
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Barça will also face Inter in the Champions League twice prior to that journey to the Santiago Bernabeu, while they then host Bayern Munich towards the end of October.
Kounde is now also facing a race against time to be fit for the World Cup this winter, and he joins Barça teammate Ronald Araujo on the treatment table after he picked up a thigh injury for Uruguay. Memphis Depay, Ousmane Dembele and Frenkie de Jong will also be monitored after similarly picking up problems on international duty.
Barcelona sit two points behind Real Madrid in La Liga's table, winning five and drawing one of their opening six matches this season.