Barcelona’s Fati elects to avoid surgery on hamstring injury

MADRID (AP) — Barcelona says forward Ansu Fati will follow a conservative recovery plan to treat his left hamstring injury. Barcelona and the player have opted to avoid surgery and his recovery time should be reduced. The club did not say how long it expects Fati to be sidelined. The 19-year-old Fati had to be replaced in the first half of extra time in the 3-2 loss to Athletic Bilbao in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey last week. Fati has played sparingly this season because of a series of injuries.