FC Barcelona heads to the Spanish capital on Sunday for a showdown with Atlético Madrid, but it will do it without one of its marquee summer signings.
Rodri won't make the trip for the match, with Barcelona forced to replace the midfielder. Barca tops the table on goal difference, with Real Madrid drawing level on 30 points.
A win against third-place Atleti would put the Balugrana back into sole possession of first place, while a draw or defeat would see both Madrid clubs buoyed by the chance of a true title race.
What did Barcelona's statement say about Rodri's injury?
The club noted that Rodri felt something off in Barcelona's 3-0 UEFA Champions League win over Aston Villa during the week. He exited the contest at halftime, with scans showing he suffered an injury to his right hamstring.
COMUNICADO
MÉDICO El jugador del primer equipo Rodrigo Hernández se ha sometido a unas pruebas médicas a raíz de las molestias musculares que notó en el partido de ayer contra el Aston Villa. Las pruebas confirman que sufre una pequeña lesión en el bíceps femoral de la pierna… pic.twitter.com/xSGi9McmVj
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) November 4, 2026
In addition to missing the trip to face Atleti, Rodri may miss additional matches depending on how the injury heals.
How to watch Atletico Madrid vs. FC Barcelona
- When: Sunday, November 8
- Where: Metropolitano Stadium(Madrid, Spain)
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Channel/streaming: ESPN/ESPN Deportes (Watch on ESPN+)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why is Rodri not playing for FC Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid?
