FC Barcelona midfielder Marc Bernal has avoided a potential injury setback after it was confirmed that the teenager only suffered stomach problems during the weekend match.
According to a report by Diario AS, relayed by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on his official X handle, the young midfielder did not sustain any serious injury and is expected to return to full availability next week.
Fabrizio posted:
No serious injury for Marc Bernal as Barcelona midfielder only suffered stomach problems. He’s expected to be available next week, reports Diario AS.
The concern arose after Barcelona secured a narrow but crucial 1–0 victory against Athletic Club in Round 27 of the La Liga during the 2025/26 season. The decisive moment of the match came in the 68th minute when rising star Lamine Yamal scored the only goal of the game following a well-worked assist from Pedri.
Bernal had started the game but was substituted at half-time after appearing uncomfortable during his 45-minute appearance. Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick later revealed that the midfielder had been dealing with “problems” during the match.
Softfootball can confirm that the issue was related to illness rather than injury, with the teenager suffering from stomach discomfort. Despite the concern, Barcelona’s medical staff believe the situation is not serious and that Bernal should recover quickly.
Barcelona have already shifted their focus to the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash against Newcastle United. Flick and his squad have travelled to England ahead of the encounter at St James’ Park, where they will be hoping to replicate the positive result they previously achieved during the league phase of the competition.
However, Barcelona will be without Frenkie de Jong for the fixture, a notable setback considering the midfielder’s impressive performance the last time the Catalan side played at St James’ Park.
With De Jong unavailable, Bernal has been viewed as the likely replacement in midfield after establishing himself as a regular option in recent weeks. The young Spaniard has impressed with his composure, positioning and ability to control the tempo of matches despite his age.
Encouragingly for Barcelona, Bernal has travelled with the squad to England and is expected to participate in training with the rest of the team before the match. The club’s medical department will continue monitoring his condition, but there is growing confidence he will be fit enough to feature.
The midfield battle is expected to be one of the key aspects of the match. Newcastle will also have their own concerns after losing Bruno Guimarães to injury, a development that could shift the balance slightly in Barcelona’s favour.
Even without De Jong, Flick can still rely on players like Pedri and Bernal to compete against Newcastle’s midfield unit, which includes Sandro Tonali and Joelinton.
For now, there remains a slight question mark over Bernal’s final availability for Tuesday’s encounter, but Barcelona remain optimistic that the talented youngster will be ready for the crucial Champions League showdown.
In other Barcelona-related developments, veteran striker Robert Lewandowski has revealed that he plans to take around three months to decide his long-term future at the club. The Polish forward explained that family comfort and personal happiness will be major factors when determining whether he extends his stay at Barcelona.
