Barcelona’s preparations for a decisive spell in their season have intensified this week, with the club juggling recovery timelines, squad rotation, and tactical adjustments ahead of a crucial Champions League showdown.
The Blaugrana have been monitoring several key players closely, aware that every small physical detail could influence their European prospects.
Tension around the medical room has grown as staff attempt to balance urgency with caution, especially with the squad stretched in recent fixtures.
Supporters have been eager for clarity on the condition of their most influential midfielders, whose absences have been deeply felt in recent performances.
And now, an encouraging development has arrived at a pivotal moment for the Catalan giants.
According to a new report from SPORT, Barcelona midfielder Pedri is increasingly expected to return to action in next week’s Champions League clash against Chelsea.
The youngster has been sidelined since the bruising El Clasico at the end of October, a period during which he has already missed three matches and is forecast to miss a few more.
Despite that, every step in his recovery has been monitored with immense attention, with club doctors encouraged by the positive way he is responding to treatment.
Given Pedri’s worrying record with injuries, Barcelona’s approach has been exceptionally cautious, shaped in part by the regret of rushing Raphinha back too soon earlier this season.
Nobody at the club is willing to risk a repeat scenario, especially with Pedri seen as one of the team’s most indispensable pieces.
For that reason, the expectation is that he will not feature in the upcoming fixture against Athletic Club, even though he is already showing impressive signs of progress.
However, optimism is steadily increasing within the club, with belief growing that he could make the squad list for the trip to Stamford Bridge.
The report states there is even a possibility he receives medical clearance shortly before the Barca squad travels to London for the Champions League encounter.
The plan, if everything continues smoothly, is for Pedri to join the group and take his place on the bench, with no expectation whatsoever that he starts the match.
His return would provide a major emotional lift for the team, even if he is only involved as a substitute.
Should the coaching staff opt for a more conservative approach, Pedri’s full competitive return could instead be pushed to 29 November against Alaves.
Such a decision would allow him to be at peak fitness for the heavyweight showdown with Atletico Madrid on 2 December, a fixture that may have significant implications for Barcelona’s title ambitions.
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