The Catalan club’s injury woes contributed to conceding seven goals across 180 minutes to exit the Champions League semi-finals
Barcelona defender Alejandro Balde has returned to group training and is expected to be available for the club’s decisive La Liga showdown against Real Madrid this weekend.
The left-back has missed the past seven games after sustaining a hamstring injury in mid-April, but head coach Hansi Flick could now have the 21-year-old back in his squad for Sunday’s clásico at Montjuic.
Balde had been racing to recover in time for Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Inter Milan but was ultimately unable to as Barcelona crashed out of the competition in his absence. His timely return could still be a key boost, however, as the La Liga campaign reaches its climax.
The young defender resumed group training this week and is undergoing additional individual sessions to be fully match-fit, according to Diario AS. Though he is unlikely to start against Real Madrid, he is expected to be named on the bench, with Gerard Martin, who impressed with two assists in the second leg against Inter, likely to retain his place in the starting 11.
Balde has made 43 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring once and providing 10 assists. His return gives Flick greater tactical flexibility, especially as Barcelona aim to tighten a defence that has shipped 66 goals this season.
Flick has often reshuffled his backline in Balde’s absence, with Inigo Martinez occasionally slotting in as a left centre-back and others filling in at full-back.
A lot is riding on the clásico: Barcelona lead La Liga by four points, and a win over their rivals would stretch that gap to seven with just four matches remaining, effectively placing the title within reach. A Madrid win, however, would reduce the gap to a single point and swing the momentum heading into the final three games of the campaign.
