Barcelona look to recover injured players with Clasico around the corner
REUTERS – Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal and fullback Alejandro Balde returned to training on Thursday as the injury-plagued LaLiga champions prepare to host Athletic Bilbao on Sunday with one eye on next week’s Clasico against Real Madrid.
Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez will hope to recover a number of key players in time to face Real, but may have to get creative with his team selection for Bilbao as the champions grapple with injuries to eight first team players, including Polish striker Robert Lewandowski.
Midfielder Sergi Roberto is the latest name on the list and will be sidelined for several weeks after suffering a leg injury in training on Wednesday.
Barca, who trail Real Madrid by three points at the LaLiga summit, also have to cope with injuries to Jules Kounde, Frenkie De Jong, Pedri and Raphinha.
Kounde will definitely miss the Real Madrid game next Saturday, but De Jong and Lewandowski have a slim chance of being fit for the Clasico.
Raphinha is said to be progressing well, while Pedri is expected to be back in training soon and could be available for Wednesday’s Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Leaders Real Madrid visit Sevilla today and are set for a reunion with their former defender Sergio Ramos for the first time since he rejoined his childhood team after a couple of seasons at Paris St Germain.
They are expecting to have centre back David Alaba available after he missed international duty with Austria due to a leg injury.