Chelsea's Injury Crisis Deepens Ahead of Barcelona Showdown
Chelsea Football Club has been dealt a significant blow ahead of their crucial Champions League encounter with FC Barcelona, with four first-team players confirmed unavailable for the match at Stamford Bridge. The most notable absentee is Cole Palmer, whose anticipated return has been delayed by a bizarre domestic incident.
Palmer's Freak Injury Setback
In a frustrating turn of events for the Blues, talismanic attacker Cole Palmer has suffered a fresh injury setback. After nearing a comeback from a persistent groin issue, the player fractured his little toe by stubbing it on a door at home last week. This freak accident means he will be a major miss for the European fixture against Barcelona on Tuesday.
Team News: Who's In and Who's Out
There is positive news concerning captain Reece James, who has been confirmed fit for the Champions League clash. His recent substitution at half-time during the Premier League match against Burnley was a planned, precautionary measure, as manager Enzo Maresca sought to manage the right-back's workload following international duty.
For the visiting side, Barcelona will be without their midfield sensation, Pedri. The highly-rated Spaniard has not fully recovered from a hamstring injury and has been ruled out of the tantalising fixture.
In a major boost for the Catalan giants, forward Marcus Rashford has recovered from a fever and is available for selection. The England international missed Barcelona's previous league fixture but has since returned to full training.
Chelsea's injury list extends beyond Palmer. The club continues to deal with the prolonged absences of defender Levi Colwill and midfielder Romeo Lavia. Both players remain sidelined and are continuing their respective rehabilitation programmes.
Furthermore, midfielder Dario Essugo is not expected to feature for Chelsea until the new year. Essugo underwent surgery for a thigh injury sustained on international duty in September, with a return projected for around January 2026.
