Barcelona superstar could resort to the option of a painkiller injection to play against Real Madrid

With only four days left before Barcelona take on Real Madrid in the first El Clasico of the 2023/24 season, Xavi Hernandez & co. are still sweating over the availability of a string of their key players.

Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde, and Sergi Roberto are all recovering from injuries and are major doubts for the big game on Saturday.

Kounde and Roberto are practically ruled out of the contest while Pedri’s involvement is also starting to appear unlikely with each passing match.

But Xavi is still hopeful of recovering at least two of the injured players in time for Real Madrid’s visit to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.

Robert Lewandowski keen on playing

Reports earlier this week suggested that even though Robert Lewandowski’s recovery is going according to plans, the 35-year-old striker is facing a race against time to be fit for the Clasico.

Now, as per Fernando Polo of Mundo Deportivo, the Poland captain has not thrown in the towel and is still fighting to make himself available to face Real Madrid.

Lewandowski suffered a sprained ankle against Porto on the second matchday of the UEFA Champions League, but he is now quite recovered and is keen to take part in the Clasico.

As such, the report states that the veteran centre-forward could always resort to an injection with a painkiller to eliminate the pain in the affected area for a few hours.

What about the others?

Pedri has been sidelined with a muscle injury since late August and was expected to recover by now, but that has not been the case.

However, the feelings of the Canary Islander are not good enough in his opinion to take the step, casting doubts over his availability for El Clasico.

De Jong’s ankle injury is more complicated than Lewandowski’s and the Dutchman is more cautious about taking risks when he is still in pain, but is still not ruled out of the game.

Neither is Raphinha, who suffered a muscle injury but is keen to play.