FC Barcelona gears up for a blockbuster El Clásico with a major double boost to their squad, ready to face Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu in a pivotal La Liga clash.
Despite an injury crisis sidelining key players and manager Hansi Flick, who is suspended after two yellow cards against Girona, the Blaugrana are buoyed by positive developments.
Fresh off a 6-1 Champions League rout of Olympiacos, Barcelona’s momentum is soaring, and this timely reinforcement could prove decisive in their quest to outmaneuver their arch-rivals in this high-stakes encounter.
As reported by AS, Frenkie de Jong and Jules Koundé have returned to full fitness, which has lifted spirits within the camp.
Both players, absent from Thursday’s training after featuring in the midweek European tie, had sparked concerns about their availability.
However, De Jong rejoined team training on Friday, ready to anchor the midfield alongside Pedri in a double pivot, while Koundé, following a tailored solo recovery program, was back with the squad by Saturday.
Their presence strengthens Barcelona’s core, providing defensive stability and midfield dynamism to counter Real Madrid’s potent attack, which has been tested by injuries of its own.
With Flick absent, Barcelona’s assistant staff will execute a 4-2-3-1 formation, emphasizing possession and rapid transitions to exploit gaps in Real Madrid’s defense.
De Jong’s vision and Koundé’s versatility bolster a lineup featuring young star Fermín López, who netted a hat-trick against Olympiacos, likely completing the midfield trio.
Despite missing several stars, including Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo, Gavi, and goalkeepers Joan García and Marc-André ter Stegen, this double boost enhances Barcelona’s chances of dominating the midfield battle.
As the Blaugrana aim to capitalize on their form, the return of these two key players could tilt the scales in their favor, setting the stage for a thrilling El Clásico showdown that could shape the La Liga title race.
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