Barcelona still sweating over the availability of midfield duo for El Clasico vs Real Madrid

Barcelona conducted their training session on Saturday in preparation for their upcoming match against Athletic Club, scheduled for tomorrow at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys. 

As reported by Mundo Deportivo, key midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Pedri were absent from the group training session again with matches against Athletic, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Real Madrid looming.

Youngsters Hector Fort, Unai Hernandez, and Marc Guiu participated and are set to be included in the matchday squad, something that will be announced by Xavi tomorrow.

De Jong has not joined his teammates since injury

It must be noted that de Jong is yet to join his teammates for training and the exact date for his full return remains uncertain, casting doubt on his availability for the highly anticipated clash, the first El Clasico of the season, scheduled for October 28. 

The Dutch midfielder sustained his injury during the first half of the match against Celta Vigo on September 23, forcing him to leave the field with issues in his right ankle. 

As reported earlier, it was just a week ago that he removed the protective splint from his injured joint.

Despite the uncertainty, the coaching staff has not ruled out his participation in the Clasico. His potential inclusion in the squad for that encounter would already be considered a significant achievement.

What’s going on with Pedri?

Pedri, on the other hand, is making positive progress in his recovery from an injury suffered on August 24. The young midfielder had suffered a tear in the rectus femoris of his right thigh. 

His anticipated return is expected in the coming week, possibly aligning with the Real Madrid match, although it hinges on how he feels and his readiness.

The stance of the coaching and medical teams is clear: they will rely heavily on the player’s well-being and comfort levels in determining whether or not he will be fit to participate in a game of such magnitude, which holds immense importance in this early part of the season.

Lastly, the likes of Lamine Yamal and Alejandro Balde are progressing well in their recovery from discomfort. Additionally, Raphinha is nearing full recovery, having nearly overcome his muscle injury.