FC Barcelona face off against RCD Espanyol tomorrow in La Liga, hoping to bounce back to winning ways and bag all three points at the Spotify Camp Nou.
While the Catalans are expected to welcome Frenkie de Jong back to the squad, Hansi Flick will once again be without young midfielder Marc Bernal.
The 18-year-old starlet suffered an ankle injury last weekend against Atletico Madrid in a league game.
As a result, he ended up missing the UEFA Champions League clash against the same opponent earlier this week and will be unavailable tomorrow as well.
Bernal’s return vs Atletico ‘complicated but not impossible’
Now, according to journalist Moi Llorens of ESPN, Bernal’s return to next week’s return fixture against Atletico Madrid is ‘complicated’.
Will Bernal be back for Atletico tie? (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Barcelona take on the Rojiblancos in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Tuesday at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
The 18-year-old Bernal’s recovery is understood to be progressing well, and there is a possibility that he could make it back in time for the trip to Madrid.
However, as things stand, the chances of that happening are seen as ‘complicated but not impossible’.
Bernal’s availability would have been a timely boost, considering that De Jong himself is returning from an injury and Pedri’s fitness has also been dodgy.
But it makes sense for Barcelona take any risks with the youngster’s fitness, even more so with Gavi gaining prominence in the team in recent games and presenting himself as an option in midfield.
