Barcelona’s preparations for their weekend clash against Elche have taken a positive turn, with two important players ready to make their return to action.
After a turbulent few weeks marked by injuries and inconsistent form, Hansi Flick has been searching for stability in his starting XI.
With fixtures piling up and the pressure to close the gap on La Liga leaders intensifying, the German coach desperately needed some positive news from the treatment room.
The upcoming clash at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys offers Barcelona a chance to regain momentum, and Flick’s latest update has done exactly that.
According to reports, Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo are both set to return for the Elche game, providing a massive lift to the Catalan side.
Both players are essential to Flick’s attacking setup, Lewandowski’s presence in the box and Olmo’s creativity between the lines will be crucial, especially with the ongoing struggles among other forwards.
Barcelona have been plagued by injuries in recent weeks, with Raphinha suffering a relapse and Lamine Yamal still nursing pubalgia issues that prevent him from reaching full fitness.
Flick’s options have therefore been severely limited, forcing the manager to rely more heavily on rotations and youth players from La Masia.
However, there is also a downside to the new injury update.
Andreas Christensen has not recovered in time and will miss the clash against Elche, according to AS.
The Danish defender, who missed recent fixtures due to a combination of a stomach issue and soleus discomfort, is yet to return to full training.
Andreas Christensen fitness struggles have been a recurring theme this season, with the 29-year-old making just nine appearances in all competitions, only three as a starter.
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