BARCELONA, Spain — Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali suffered an injury during the Champions League match against Barcelona on Wednesday, just eight days before Italy begins its World Cup qualifying playoff for this summer’s tournament.
Tonali appeared to injure his left thigh while sprinting back to defend Fermín López, conceding a corner in the process.
“Sandro is a doubt due to a groin and hip issue,” Newcastle coach Eddie Howe stated after the match. “He played excellently in the first half, and we definitely felt his absence once he left the pitch.”
At the time of his substitution, Barcelona was leading 4-2 early in the second half, with forward Robert Lewandowski scoring a header from the corner, effectively securing Barcelona’s advancement to the quarterfinals.
Barcelona quickly extended their lead to 6-2 at Camp Nou, following a 1-1 draw against Newcastle last week.
Tonali was anticipated to be a key starter for Italy as they aim to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 2014.
Italy is set to host Northern Ireland on March 26 at Atalanta’s stadium in Bergamo, with the winner moving on to face either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina five days later.
The playoff bracket winner will secure a spot in a World Cup group alongside co-host Canada, Switzerland, and Qatar.
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.