No alarm bells at Barcelona after young midfielder picks up knock during a friendly | OneFootball

Barcelona took on CE Europa in their first pre-season friendly, a closed-door affair meant to give Hansi Flick a chance to test out his players during a game.

The German manager named a heavily La Masia-influenced starting line-up that saw the likes of Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Marc Casado come off the bench.

One player who did not play a single minute against Europa was Marc Bernal, with it later being revealed that he was suffering from some muscular discomfort.

Now, according to Javi Miguel in Diario AS, the 19-year-old has suffered a slight muscular overload and is following an individual programme in the gym while the club closely monitors his recovery.

No immediate cause for alarm

Bernal’s knock not considered to be serious. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

There are no indications of a serious injury at this stage, but Barcelona want to prevent the problem from developing into something more significant.

Bernal did not feature in the recent friendly against Europa, with the coaching staff preferring caution over unnecessary risk. His workload will continue to be adjusted until he is ready to return to full team training.

That careful approach is understandable given his recent injury history. Bernal made an impressive start to his first-team career before suffering a serious cruciate ligament injury against Rayo Vallecano.

He returned last season and made quite an impression before suffering another ankle injury that saw his role diminish towards the end.

A major role is waiting for Bernal

Bernal gearing up for an important season. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Hansi Flick is likely to have an important role for Bernal to play in his team once the 2026-27 season begins.

Captain Frenkie de Jong faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines and, with Casado’s future uncertain, that likely means Gavi and Bernal are going to see a lot of minutes.

His composure in possession, physical presence and ability to receive the ball under pressure make him a natural fit for the role Barcelona need.

Thus, it is understandable that Barça are treating this overload with the utmost precaution.

The most important objective is not getting Bernal ready for the next friendly. It is ensuring he can handle an entire season without suffering another major setback.

A few cautious days in the gym could go a long way in setting him up for a breakthrough season, and it remains to be seen how long it takes before Bernal gets some minutes in pre-season.