Barcelona receives a huge boost ahead of the Champions League clash against Inter Milan, but faces defensive concerns for the semi-final.
Barcelona earned a challenging victory against Real Valladolid in La Liga, which served as valuable preparation for a second-leg match in the UEFA Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan.
The victory highlighted the determination of the squad, but the match at the San Siro is presently taking up too much of Hansi Flick’s mental capacity.
It was a taxing match in terms of both exercise and the match schedule, and it is around exercise fatigue that the medical staff are focused on for preparation for a high-pressure European match.
The game against Valladolid tested Barcelona’s squad depth, with some players pushing through demanding minutes of soccer.
Barcelona received an uncertain injury update, possibly influencing their game plan.
Forward Robert Lewandowski, who has been absent since suffering a thigh injury while playing against Celta Vigo, will be included in the squad to return, which is a significant boost for Barcelona’s attacking players, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Inter Milan is a well-organized and disciplined side, and will look to take advantage of any physical effects of fatigue or weakness in Flick’s lineup.
The win against Valladolid will help boost morale for the squad, but questions remain about the condition in which the squad will enter the critical semi-final.
Conversely, left-back Alejandro Balde will not be included due to a leg injury, which caused him to miss the Inter Milan match, as well as the remaining La Liga matches.
Now, Flick has to figure out how to adjust defensively without Balde while hopefully bringing back Lewandowski to add forward power.
As Barcelona looks to defeat one of the best-organized teams in Europe to earn a place in the Champions League final, the flip side of these injury updates will test Barcelona’s depth as they try to focus on this momentous decision-making opportunity in their season.
Want to get the latest Barcelona news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.
