KEY FORWARD RULED OUT FOR BAYERN

Barcelona have been slammed with a big blow ahead of the all-important Champions League clash with Bayern Munich next week after it was revealed that key forward AnsuFati won’t be available for the game. It had earlier been reported that the young Spanish international could return from injury to take his place in the Barcelona squad for the crucial away game against the Bavarian giants even if he’s not completely fit.

Fati, 18, has been out of action for some weeks as a result of the hamstring injury that he picked up during the Celta Vigo clash in the Spanish La Liga. The Spaniard was a major casualty from the game which ended in a 3-3 draw after hosts Celta Vigo came from three goals down to secure a point.

Spanish media outlet RAC1 has ruled Fati out of the Bayern game with Barcelona officials not ready to risk further injuries to the forward. He has already missed a lot of football dating back to last season when he missed several months due to a knee injury. The young attacker then had a major setback while trying to recover from the knee injury and that prompted him to miss the majority of last season. He was active for just the first two months of the last campaign.

AnsuFati made his return from the knee injury this season and he has scored four goals plus an assist in eight games this season. In his absence, new Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez would be relying on other attacking talents such as Dutchman Memphis Depay, Martin Braithwaite and OusmaneDembele to deliver the goods. Ahead of the Bayern game, Barcelona are in must-win territory or risk dropping down to the Europa League for the second half of the season. Only a win will guarantee their knockout spot in the Champions League this season.