BARCELONA
Will Pedri and Ousmane Dembélé be fit for the Copa del Rey Clásico against Real Madrid?
Key Barça duo Pedri and Dembélé continue to struggle to overcome thigh injuries with another Clásico against Madrid around the corner.
Barcelona received some bad news regarding one of their young midfield stars yesterday and more has come today related to the other one. Pedri will almost certainly be forced to sit out another Clásico against Real Madrid in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals after suffering a relapse in his recovery from a thigh injury. The Spanish international had initially been pencilled in to return to action in that league clash against Los Blancos at Camp Nou on Sunday but was forced to admit defeat after struggling in last Friday’s training session.
Little progress being made by Pedri and Dembélé
Last week’s setback prompted the club’s medical staff to supervise his recovery even more stringently to ensure that he would be available for the cup Clásico, which will take place almost three weeks after he was originally scheduled to be available again. However, Pedri has shown few signs of significant improvement and has been all but ruled out of the last-four clash against Madrid, as revealed by Relevo and confirmed by AS.
Another man who is in the same boat is Ousmane Dembélé, whose recovery from a similar injury is taking longer than expected. There has been no news as to whether the French winger will be fit in time for the Copa del Rey clash, although the chances of him being involved appear to be very slim.
When did the duo last appear for Barcelona?
Pedri hasn’t played since 16 February, when Barcelona drew 2-2 at home to Manchester United in the first leg of the Europa League playoff round. Dembélé's last appearance, meanwhile, came all the way back on 28 January, when he hobbled off in the first half of a 1-0 LaLiga victory away to Girona.