Barcelona get major injury boost ahead of PSG clash as Lamine Yamal sends ominous message | OneFootball

Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain will lock horns again on Wednesday night at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, in what has become one of the most febrile rivalries in European football. Both sides will be missing a number of stars, but the Catalan giants have been given some good news.

PSG traveled to Barcelona without Marquinhos, Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue, although did have some positive injury news of their own too. Hansi Flick meanwhile will be without Joan Garcia, Fermin Lopez and Raphinha, at least two of which would have started the match.

Barcelona given injury boost for Paris Saint-Germain clash

The good news for Flick is that he will again have Alejandro Balde at his disposal. The left-back has missed their last five games due to a hamstring injury suffered just before the last international break. However Balde has been back in training, and has now been given the medical green light for the PSG game and named in the squad.

Image via FC Barcelona

Lamine Yamal sends message on Instagram

Meanwhile Lamine Yamal is also looking forward to the game, posting on his Instagram story that ‘I’m back and the mission is also back’. The 18-year-old had posted ‘I’m back’ ahead of his return from injury against Real Sociedad this past weekend, while he also spoke this summer about his desire to lift the Champions League as his next major goal.

Options in defence for Flick

Perhaps the biggest question mark for Flick is Barcelona’s backline. The German coach has rotated through his cast of central defenders, with Eric Garcia, Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen and Pau Cubarsi have all appeared there, while Garcia has also appeared on occasion at right-back ahead of Jules Kounde.

With the return of Balde, it remains to be seen whether Flick will throw him straight back into the fold, or keep faith in Gerard Martin from the start. Youngster Jofre Torrents is also in the squad, as are Toni Fernandez, Dro Fernandez, Eder Aller and Diego Kochen.