Lamine Yamal nears return as Barcelona prepare for Athletic Club clash, €140m player still sidelined | OneFootball

FC Barcelona enjoyed a relatively trouble-free international break in November as none of their players returned with injuries.

The good news continued with Raphinha and Joan Garcia, both of whom are expected to feature against Athletic Club in the return to Spotify Camp Nou. After two months on the sidelines, their return to group training is a welcome boost for Hansi Flick.

Meanwhile, according to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona remain cautious with Lamine Yamal and Pedri, who have yet to participate fully in training ahead of Saturday’s game.

Lamine took part in a partial session on Wednesday as he continues to recover from his recent radiofrequency treatment. The teenager is expected to be included in the squad, possibly earning some minutes, while Marc Casado also trained normally and could feature against the Basque club.

Pedri continues to train separately as he recovers from his muscle injury. The club has no intention of rushing the €140 million-rated midfield star, aiming instead to have him fully fit for next Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The training session also saw contributions from seven B team players, including Eder Aller, Jofre, Tommy Marques, Dro, Guillem Victor, and Toni Fernandez, along with Bernal, who played in the Catalunya–Palestine match on Tuesday.

Raphinha and Joan Garcia have been participating in sessions over the past few days and are expected to be ready to make an impact against Athletic Club, while Lamine’s involvement will likely be managed to ensure he is fully prepared for the European showdown against Chelsea.