FC Barcelona enjoyed a commanding 4–0 victory over Athletic Club on Saturday at the Spotify Camp Nou, but an even bigger challenge awaits as they travel to London to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League.
Facing the Blues is never straightforward. Chelsea are steadily re-establishing themselves among Europe’s elite after a few seasons of inconsistent results, making this matchup a true test for Hansi Flick’s side.
Following the win against Athletic Bilbao, Barcelona returned to training at the Ciutat Esportiva yesterday to prepare for the trip to London. The starters from Saturday’s match had a light recovery session, while the substitutes and other available players trained separately.
Marcus Rashford, who missed the last La Liga game due to a severe flu and high fever, was among those in training and, according to Mundo Deportivo, is expected to be available for selection against Chelsea.
Pedri of FC Barcelona looks on during the warm up prior to the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images
However, one player Flick continues to wait for is Pedri. The €140 million-rated Spanish midfielder has been out since El Clásico and has not yet returned to group training ahead of the Chelsea game.
The report notes that the player feels good, and a decision on his availability will be made today. Without a proper group session, though, it is highly unlikely that he will make the squad list.
Barcelona will be cautious about rushing Pedri back too soon to avoid a relapse. With Frenkie de Jong available, he should be able to shoulder the burden against Chelsea alongside either Eric Garcia or Marc Casado. Let us wait and see how things play out.