Injury update: Barcelona La Masia duo expected to be back for Champions League clash

After the international break, Barcelona is set to resume their campaign on Sunday with a match against Athletic Club. However, with several injuries plaguing the club, the upcoming game against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League is one to watch in terms of team selection.

Balde & Yamal Expected to Play Against Shakhtar

Barcelona is currently dealing with seven injured players, including Pedri, Robert Lewandowski, and Frenkie de Jong, among others. According to Diario SPORT, Lamine Yamal and Alejandro Balde, two of Barcelona’s young stars, are likely to be available for the clash against Shakhtar Donetsk.

Both players have minor injuries and should be ready for the Champions League match, which would be a significant boost for coach Xavi Hernandez.

However, both players remain doubtful for the Athletic Club match, potentially necessitating a few lineup adjustments for Xavi.

Lewandowski, De Jong Completely Ruled Out

Referring to Barcelona’s upcoming matches against Athletic Club, Shakhtar, and Real Madrid as the “Tourmalet,” Diario SPORT suggests that Lewandowski and De Jong are almost completely ruled out.

This is due to their serious injuries, making it highly unlikely they will participate in these matches, which could pose a major challenge for Xavi. Barcelona is likely to have other players available for the Shakhtar game, though Xavi may choose to rest some players as he keeps an eye on the upcoming Real Madrid encounter.

One player who is expected to be rested against Shakhtar is Ronald Araujo. The defender recently returned to the Uruguay national team after 13 months and could benefit from some rest before facing Real Madrid later this month.