Barca's Kounde injured vs Austria

Barcelona are sweating on the fitness of defender Jules Kounde and forward Memphis Depay after injuries with their national teams on Thursday night. 

Kounde suffered a thigh problem in France’s 2-0 Nations League win over Austria, while Depay suffered a similar injury in the Netherlands’s triumph over Poland, by the same score. 

The French defender has played a mixture of right-back and centre-back for Xavi’s team since joining in the summer from Sevilla, quickly establishing himself as a regular starter, and is set to line up in the starting XI against Real Madrid in the Clasico on October 16.

Depay has been more of a squad player, but did score in the last match before the international break, a comfortable 3-0 win over Elche. 

“It’s a shame that Memphis had to go off with this injury, it doesn’t bode well,” said coach Louis van Gaal. “I don’t see him playing against Belgium.” – AFP