Barcelona midfield maestro trains alone in gym after absence confirmed vs Elche | OneFootball

According to a fresh update from SPORT, Barcelona have allowed Pedri to take a well-deserved breather by training in the gym rather than joining the group session this morning. 

The midfielder, who received a red card in the dying minutes of last weekend’s El Clasico, will serve his suspension in the upcoming clash against Elche, effectively giving him a rare 10-day break to recharge both mentally and physically.

While losing a player of Pedri’s calibre is never ideal, this enforced rest might actually prove to be a blessing in disguise for Hansi Flick’s side. 

The fixture calendar is about to become more congested, and giving Pedri time to recover could help prevent fatigue or possible injuries later in the season.

Suprising numbers

The Elche game will mark only the second occasion that Flick has been unable to rely on Pedri since taking charge of Barcelona.

Since Flick’s arrival, Pedri has featured in 72 of the 73 matches, almost always as a starter. 

Pedri will get a much-deserved break. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

In fact, he has only been brought on as a substitute three times, all during the previous campaign, showing the immense trust Flick places in his creativity and control in midfield.

Pedri’s consistency and workload have been remarkable. The El Clasico suspension ends a streak of 49 consecutive appearances, which is an astonishing figure for a player who is still only in his early 20s. 

When will he return?

This short break could therefore come at the perfect time, allowing him to reset and return fresher for the intense run of games ahead.

His next appearance is expected to be in the Champions League against Club Brugge on November 5, where he will look to continue being the heartbeat of Flick’s system. 

The break may be unplanned, but it might just help Pedri maintain his sharpness and ensure he remains a driving force for Barcelona deep into the season.