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Girona is facing a race against time to have Azzedine Ounahi available for the derby against FC Barcelona. The club is opting for caution while its Moroccan midfielder’s recovery is progressing well, and his participation should remain uncertain until just before kick-off.
Girona confirmed recently week that the Morocco international is dealing with a “soleus muscle injury” in his left leg sustained at the AFCON. He’s back with the club, but they aren’t rushing him. The club said his return depends entirely on how his body responds to training, which puts his status for the Barcelona match in serious doubt.
Ounahi has been sidelined since early January after a calf tear cut his AFCON dreams short. At the time, Morocco coach Walid Regragui estimated at the time that he’d be out for about five to six weeks, noting that Ounahi had actually aggravated an old injury from his time at Girona. It’s been a frustrating period for the midfielder, especially since the scar tissue from that previous issue reopened during a training session.
🫂 Dos vells coneguts pic.twitter.com/QUyf6o6ioy
— Girona FC (@GironaFC) February 11, 2026
The 25-year-old has not played for Girona since mid-December, when he left for international duty, meaning he has been absent from competitive action for roughly six weeks heading into the Barcelona game.
Azzedine Ounahi is racing to be fit for Girona’s meeting with Barcelona. While he’s in the final phase of his rehab, a starting spot is probably out of reach after so much time on the sidelines. The plan seems to be getting him into the squad first and only if he’s cleared could he play a small but crucial part off the bench in the final minutes.
The match itself is important for Girona since they navigate a demanding stretch of the La Liga season against one of the title contenders. Barcelona have been battling near the top of the table, and meetings between the Catalan rivals in recent seasons have carried weight both in the title race and in Girona’s push for European places.
So Ounahi’s potential return couldn’t come at a better time for Girona. He had established himself as a regular starter and the creative heartbeat of the team before being sidelined. Without him, Girona have had to get creative with their rotations during a critical run of games, so having him back in the lineup changes everything.
Still, it’s right now a race against time for Ounahi. He’ll likely face a late fitness test to see if he can feature against Barcelona, but if he doesn’t make the cut, the club expects him back for the very next game. That next fixture is probably a safer bet for his full return anyway.
