Barca Confirm Seven, Madrid Four as Covid-19 Hit El Clasico Rivals

Barcelona have confirmed that Ousmane Dembele, Samuel Umtiti and Gavi have all tested positive for Covid-19, taking the number of cases in the squad in recent days to seven.

Also last night, rivals, Real Madrid’s Belgian keeper Thibaut Courtois, Uruguay midfielder Federico Valverde, French midfielder Eduardo Camavinga and Brazilian winger Vincius Junior are all infected, the La Liga leaders said in a statement.

A spokeswoman for the club declined to say how many players are currently infected with the virus but since mid-December eight other players have tested positive including Gareth Bale and Luka Modric.

Barça are preparing to resume La Liga action after the Christmas break, but already this week Clement Lenglet and Dani Alves tested positive on Monday, with Jordi Alba and Alejandro Balde joining them on Tuesday.

Now, positive tests for Dembele, Umtiti and Gavi have pushed the number of Barça players currently in isolation up to seven.

The club has reported that all of the players currently affected are in ‘good health’. However, the necessary self-isolation period means they are all set to miss Sunday’s trip to Mallorca. The Copa del Rey clash against Linares next Wednesday and the subsequent La Liga clash with Granada a few days later are also likely to be problems for the seven in question.

Barça already have existing injuries to Pedri, Ansu Fati, Memphis Depay, Martin Braithwaite and Sergi Roberto, while Sergio Busquets is suspended. It means coach Xavi will have no choice but to call on junior players from the club’s B team to help make up the numbers.

Barça missed an opportunity to go into La Liga’s top four before Christmas, with Xavi admitting that the 1-1 draw against a Sevilla side who played with ten men for half an hour would give him sleepless nights.