Barcelona's Marc Bernal Suffers Season-Ending Injury

FC Barcelona's 17-year-old midfielder Marc Bernal has sustained a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and a damaged lateral meniscus during the team's 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano, sidelining him indefinitely. This injury, which occurred in stoppage time, is considered season-ending by many experts, including AS correspondent Javi Miguel. Bernal had been a standout performer for Barcelona, starting all three of their La Liga matches this season and helping them maintain a perfect record under new manager Hansi Flick. Flick expressed his sadness over the injury, highlighting its impact on the team's morale and midfield options, as other key players like Frenkie de Jong and Gavi are also injured. The injury is a significant setback for both Bernal's burgeoning career and Barcelona's campaign as they aim to stay atop the La Liga standings.