The emotional scars of Barcelona agonizing Copa del Rey victory over Real Madrid last week were not the only thing that lingers.
As they gear up for their Champions League semi-final first leg against Inter Milan, concerns remain with the physicality of that 120-minute encounter, which was intense and also physical.
Even though the squad showed immense resilience in being able to hoist that trophy above their heads, it put Hansi Flick in a difficult position regarding squad selection in the lead-up to the European challenge.
The medical staff have been working tirelessly to assess the players’ fitness, on top of the staff keeping a close eye on player wellness and injuries leading up to the match against the Italian champions.
Specifically, they needed to know the conditions of players who played a full match versus Real Madrid.
Most of the squad has recovered enough, but there are still significant concerns regarding a few players.
As soon as Barcelona takes the pitch, it is likely Inter Milan will be looking to capitalize on any signs of fatigue or weakness in the Barcelona lineup.
Barcelona will be missing two key starters for the European encounter, as reported by Mundo Deportivo.
Left-back Alejandro Balde and star forward Robert Lewandowski will both miss the game after failing to receive the necessary medical clearance after recovering from injury.
Lewandowski has been sidelined since suffering a thigh injury against Celta Vigo and continues to be regarded as day to day without a clear timeline on recovery.
Balde will not play in the first leg of the Champions League tie or the next La Liga match against Valladolid due to a leg injury.
There will be some difficult decisions for manager Hansi Flick to make.
As the team takes on Inter Milan, all eyes will be watching to see how Flick’s men cope against one of Europe’s most organized teams, with the challenges they are facing.
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