Barcelona faced a new wave of concern after coach Hans Flick was forced to substitute midfielder Pedri at halftime during the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Atletico Madrid, which ended with the Catalan team losing 2-0.

According to the Spanish newspaper "Mundo Deportivo," Pedri felt pain in his hamstring muscles during the first half, prompting the medical team to decide to substitute him to ensure his safety and prevent the injury from worsening, especially given the player's medical history with muscle injuries.

The player will undergo thorough medical examinations to determine his readiness to participate in the Barcelona derby match against Espanyol, scheduled for next Saturday at 6:30 PM. De Jong is also expected to be ready for this match, six weeks after his injury to the distal biceps muscle in his right leg.

These developments come as Barcelona needs to achieve positive results in the upcoming matches, following the loss to Atletico Madrid. The team is striving to maintain the readiness of its key players ahead of the important derby match.