Barcelona confirm Gavi suffered only a bruise after 5-0 LaLiga win at Elche

Barcelona issued an update on midfielder Gavi after he left the field during their 5-0 LaLiga victory over Elche on Sunday.

The match marked the start of Barcelona’s title defence in LaLiga and featured two goals each from Raphinha and Fermin Lopez, with Karim Adeyemi scoring on his first competitive appearance for the Blaugrana; late in the first half Gavi was dragged off in tears after falling and clutching his right knee.

Gavi’s availability has repeatedly been affected by problems to that same knee: he missed the second half of the 2023-24 season, and Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph, after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament.

The midfielder was also sidelined from August to March of the following season after surgery to repair a medial meniscus rupture in the same knee.

On Gavi’s current condition Barcelona head coach Flick said: “It’s his knee. We have to wait. It’s a little better than he expected when he got injured. After the game he was much better. We will do an MRI and see.”

The club released a medical statement adding: “First-team player Gavi took a knock to his right knee during yesterday’s game. Medical tests carried out this morning have confirmed that it is only a bruise. He is expected to return to training shortly.”

An MRI has been mentioned by the coach and Barcelona’s medical tests have indicated a bruise; the club expects Gavi to return to training shortly once the scan and recovery assessment are completed.