Barcelona midfielder Gavi is recovering from a knee injury and is expected to be ready after the international break, manager Hansi Flick announced before Sunday’s La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano.
The 21-year-old sustained a right knee injury during training on Friday after appearing in both of Barcelona’s initial matches this season.
“The plan is for Gavi to be ready for the Valencia game on September 14. We will monitor his progress. He’s feeling better today than yesterday. We’re hopeful,” Flick stated on Saturday.
Gavi had 26 league appearances during Barcelona’s championship-winning season, returning in October after an 11-month recovery from an ACL injury in his right knee.
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The Spanish Football Federation previously named Gavi in their squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and Turkey next week, but confirmed on Saturday that he would not attend the national team’s training camp.
Barcelona aims for its third consecutive win of the season when facing Rayo Vallecano, a team that last defeated Barcelona in La Liga in 2023.
“It will be a challenging match against a strong team. Every game is unique, and the intensity is always high,” Flick noted.
Barcelona, who reached the Champions League semifinals last year, will host Paris St Germain and play away at Chelsea and Newcastle United during this season’s league phase.
“There are some significant matches,” Flick remarked about the draw. “For a team like Barcelona, the goal is to win the Champions League. It is the top competition.”
Published on Aug 30, 2025