The UEFA Champions League Quarter Finals draw has been decided. FC Barcelona have an enormous task ahead of them as they face Luis Enrique's Paris Saint-Germain after missing the UCL QF for four years.
All eyes are on the Catalan Giants as they rise from the ashes to reclaim their throne as one of Europe's best. No one expects the Blaugranes to advance ahead, as the club's internal chaos stays too loud. Amidst the disarray, the Spanish club also faces an injury crisis, which makes moving past the QF even difficult.
Let's inspect the fitness status of the recently injured who might play a crucial role in the UCL clash.
Frenkie de Jong
Frenkie de Jong rolled his ankle in a goalless draw against Atheltic. The Dutchman is ruled out for a month and is expected to return on the 8th of April. The PSG clash is on 10th April and the club might risk rushing him back as he is one of the indispensable cores of the midfield.
Ferran Torres
Ferran Torres went down with a hamstring injury in a 1-0 win against Osasuna. His expected return date was 15th March and fortunately the Spanish winger has returned to training as was confirmed by Xavi. The Spaniard will be available for the La Liga clash against Atlético, hence an appearance against PSG might be on the cards.
Pedri
Pedri pulled his hamstring in the same Athletic clash where de Jong was injured. The Canarian's expected return date is April 22nd and he might not be available for the first leg against PSG. It's a shame because just like de Jong, the 21-year-old remains one of the major players of the squad.
Marcos Alonso
Marcos Alonso's age might be catching up to him as the defender recently had an operation because of his back problems. Luckily, the operation was a success and the full-back has returned to training alongside Ferran Torres. The Spainard is available against Atlético and his presence against PSG can be useful because of Balde's absence.
As the Champions League clash draws near, Barcelona's medical team faces the challenge of balancing player-recovery and tactical considerations. Hopefully, the club takes the player's long-term fitness into consideration and also comes out on top against PSG.