Barcelona: Umtiti returns to squad for Juventus clash
Defender Samuel Umtiti has been given the green light to make his return for Barça in Tuesday's Champions League game against Juventus.
Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman could plunge Samuel Umtiti back into action against Juventus and Cristiano Ronaldo in what would be the defender's first appearance of the season.
Umtiti given medical all-clear ahead of Champions League clash
The French World Cup winner has been blighted by knee problems, with Barcelona announcing his latest injury issue in early July, and he has not played since.
However, Barça declared on Tuesday morning that Umtiti has been given the medical all-clear over his left knee, naming him in their squad for the clash with Juventus at Camp Nou that evening.
That comes as a major boost to head coach Koeman, whose defensive options have been clipped by an injury suffered by Gerard Piqué.
Messi, Ronaldo set to go head to head in Group G decider
Barcelona and Juventus are both assured of qualification for the last-16 stage ahead of their clash in the final round of Group G games, with Koeman's side three points clear of the Serie A champions thanks to their 2-0 win in Turin in October.
Ronaldo missed that game after testing positive for covid-19 but there was the tantalising prospect of the former Real Madrid star lining up against Lionel Messi, in a clash of the two preeminent players of their generation.