FC Barcelona confirmed a major setback to their 2024/2025 season with news that breakout midfielder Marc Bernal has suffered a potentially season-ending injury. The club announced the devastating blow through an official statement on their website, detailing the extent of the injury that the 17-year-old sustained during their recent La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano.

“Tests carried out on Wednesday have shown that the player Marc Bernal has a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and an associated injury to the lateral meniscus,” the club’s statement began. 

This diagnosis confirms the fears of many fans and analysts, who had speculated on the severity of Bernal’s injury after he was seen leaving the pitch in discomfort.

Bernal’s injury occurred in the final moments of Barcelona’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano. Despite the euphoria of securing three consecutive wins in the new La Liga season, the mood within the Barcelona camp has been dampened significantly by the news of Bernal’s condition. 

The young midfielder had been a bright spot in Barca’s early season form, starting all three league matches and impressing with his maturity and composure on the ball.

Barcelona’s statement further confirmed that Bernal would undergo surgery in the coming days, with updates to follow post-operation. However, the club has not provided a specific timeline for his recovery, leaving fans and pundits to speculate on when they might see the talented youngster back in action. 

Given the nature of the injury, an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear is widely considered one of the most serious injuries a footballer can endure, often requiring a lengthy rehabilitation period. Spanish media outlet AS correspondent Javi Miguel has gone as far as to suggest that Bernal may be out for the remainder of the season.

On X (formerly Twitter), Miguel expressed the growing concern among those close to the situation, stating there was “absolute pessimism” regarding Bernal’s prognosis. He added that if the ACL rupture is confirmed, Bernal could be looking at a prolonged absence from the pitch, potentially ruling him out until the next season.

Hansi Flick, Barcelona’s manager, was visibly shaken by the injury news during his post-match interview with DAZN España. Despite leading his team to a comeback victory, Flick admitted that the triumph was overshadowed by Bernal’s unfortunate injury. 

“It’s not good, and the dressing room is very affected. He had played a great game, and his situation hurts us a lot,” Flick said somberly. His concerns were further evidenced by his actions after the match, as he was seen consoling Bernal, who had to leave the stadium on crutches.

Flick’s support for Bernal has been evident since the start of the season. The German coach gave the young Spaniard his break into the first team during Barcelona’s preseason tour of the United States and continued to trust him as a starter in the opening matches of the La Liga campaign. 

Bernal has repaid that faith with performances that have belied his age, quickly establishing himself as a key player in Flick’s setup.

With Bernal now facing a potentially long road to recovery, Flick will have to find alternatives within his squad to fill the void left by the young midfielder. According to SPORT, Marc Casado or Pau Prim are the likeliest candidates to step into Bernal’s role as a pivot in Barcelona’s 4-2-3-1 formation, a system that has yielded positive results thus far.

Bernal’s injury is a significant blow to both the player and the club, but Barcelona’s supporters will be hopeful that the youngster can make a full recovery and return stronger. In the meantime, the focus will shift to how Flick and his team adapt to this latest challenge as they continue their quest for domestic and European glory.