Barcelona solidified their position at the top of La Liga with a commanding 3-0 victory over Osasuna on March 27, 2025. However, the evening was marred by the injury of forward Dani Olmo, who was forced to leave the pitch in the first half after a promising start.
Olmo, who had opened the scoring from the penalty spot just 21 minutes into the match, doubled Barcelona's lead with a second penalty after an initial attempt was saved due to a VAR intervention. Unfortunately, shortly after his goal, he appeared to sustain a muscular injury to his upper right leg, leading to his substitution in the 28th minute.
Barcelona's head coach Hansi Flick expressed his concern over Olmo's condition during the post-match press conference, stating, "It is an injury, and now in this schedule two weeks is a lot of matches, so it is not good." The coach's words echoed the fears of many fans, as Olmo's injury could sideline him for crucial upcoming matches.
Flick elaborated on the implications of Olmo's injury, indicating that the player is expected to miss at least two weeks of action. This timeline would rule him out for the upcoming La Liga clash against Girona on March 30, the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid on April 4, and potentially the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Borussia Dortmund on April 9.
Olmo's injury history has been a point of concern for Barcelona since he joined from RB Leipzig last summer for a reported fee of €60 million. He has already missed several matches this season due to previous injuries, including a hamstring issue that sidelined him for a month and a calf problem that kept him out for five games.
Despite Olmo's injury, Barcelona managed to secure their eighth consecutive victory in La Liga, maintaining a three-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of the table. Ferran Torres opened the scoring in the 11th minute, tapping in a cross from Alejandro Balde, before Olmo's penalty doubled the advantage. Robert Lewandowski capped off the scoring in the 77th minute with a header from a cross by Fermín López, marking his 23rd league goal of the season.
Flick praised his team's performance, saying, "We are going through a great moment, and I am proud of the team, the way they are facing every game with the same commitment." He acknowledged the challenges ahead, noting that there are still ten matches left in the season, and emphasized the importance of maintaining focus as they head into the final stretch.
Barcelona's upcoming fixtures are critical as they aim for a treble this season. The team will look to bounce back quickly from Olmo's injury and continue their winning streak against Girona, where they will need to perform without one of their key attacking players.
As the injury situation unfolds, fans and analysts will be eagerly watching to see how Barcelona adapts to the absence of Olmo, who has scored seven goals and provided five assists in 27 appearances this season. His contribution has been significant in helping Barcelona navigate through a packed schedule, and his loss will certainly be felt during this vital period.
In conclusion, while Barcelona celebrates their latest victory, the concern over Dani Olmo's fitness looms large. The next few weeks will be crucial for the team as they aim to maintain their lead in La Liga and advance in both the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.