Sidelined Barcelona youngster was comforted by an ex-Blaugrana star during Valladolid clash | OneFootball

Barcelona starlet Marc Bernal was comforted by a former member of the club’s midfield ranks on Saturday.

Barca, of course, marked their return to action last night, welcoming Real Valladolid to Catalunya’s capital for a La Liga clash.

And a remarkable Blaugrana showing ensued, en route to an eventual 7-0 rout.

Forced to watch on from the sidelines as his teammates conjured up their performance of the season to date, however, was the aforementioned Marc Bernal.

Midfielder Bernal was condemned to a long-term spell away from the pitch earlier this week, after suffering an ACL tear in his left knee during a meeting with Rayo Vallecano.

Messages of support, in turn, have since flooded in for the 17-year-old, who had quickly set about establishing himself as a central figure in Hansi Flick’s XI over the early weeks of the term.

And, as alluded to above, on Saturday, such support was added to, in person, by a familiar face in Barcelona…

In attendance in the stands at Montjuïc, Thiago Alcântara was spotted pulling Bernal in for a warm embrace.

Thiago, of course, oversaw the Spanish starlet’s development during pre-season, as a member of Hansi Flick’s Blaugrana coaching staff.

No doubt eager to see Bernal back on the pitch as soon as possible, Thiago, in turn, afforded some words of encouragement to the La Masia graduate:

Conor Laird | GSFN