Robert Lewandowski major doubt for Clasico with ankle sprain
- Lewandowski picked up injury in Champions League win over Porto
- 35-year-old withdrawan in first half at Estadio do Dragao
- Xavi dealing with host of injuries to key first-team players
Barcelona have confirmed that Robert Lewandowski has suffered an ankle sprain, with his participation in the season's first Clasico in serious doubt.
The 35-year-old picked up the injury during Barca's narrow 1-0 win over Porto in the Champions League and was replaced in the 34th minute by Ferran Torres, who went on to score the only goal of the game in first half stoppage-time.
Lewandowski has picked up where he left off last season in terms of goalscoring form, netting six times in ten appearances across all competitions, including five in La Liga.
But whether or not he'll be able to face Real Madrid on 28 Octoberin the first Clasico of the season is now the question on everybody's lips. Barcelona confirmed in a statement on Thursday that the Poland captain had suffered an ankle sprain, though they did not put a timeline on his recovery.
Granada await Barcelona this coming Sunday evening, with Lewandowski then scheduled to join up with Poland for their Euro 2024 qualifiers against Faroe Islands and Moldova. Athletic Club and Shakhtar Donetsk are Barca's next two opponents once domestic football kicks off again on 22 October - those two games will take place within three days of each other.
Real Madrid then head to the Lluis Companys three days later on Saturday 28 October - Barcelona's temporary home while Camp Nou is renovated - which leaves Lewandowski just over three weeks to get himself fit for what many regard to be the biggest club game in world football.
Lewandowski has drawn a blank in his two Clasico appearances - Real Madrid won at the Santiago Bernabeu 3-1 before Barcelona exacted their revenge later in the season with a last-gasp 2-1 win at Camp Nou - but he scored 23 La Liga goals to win the Pichichi Trophy in his first season at the club.
He added a further ten goals in cup and European competition to take his tally to 33, though that otherwise impressive figure actually represented his lowest goalscoring return since his first season at former club Bayern Munich way back in 2014/15.
Barcelona manager Xavi is also contending with injuries to Raphinha, Frenkie de Jong and Pedri, leaving the Catalan giants a little stretched for personnel over the next few weeks, despite the summer arrival of Ilkay Gundogan among others.
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