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Hansi Flick finds himself with a midfield puzzle to solve ahead of Barcelona's Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Atlético Madrid on Wednesday night.
The German tactician acknowledged that he took a "risk" with Pedri's fitness earlier in the campaign, loading his key playmaker with more playing time than the medical staff would have recommended. It paid off. The same cannot be said for some of his teammates.
Pedri's two primary midfield partners are expected to sit out the midweek clash with Atlético, while Raphinha's unavailability threatens to disrupt the pressing dynamics across the attack. On a positive note for Flick, defender Ronald Araújo has avoided any serious injury and will be available for Wednesday's squad.
Barcelona have already squared off against Atlético four times this season, compelling Flick to devise an adjusted tactical approach. "Yesterday was focused on recovery, and today we worked on something specific," the Barça head coach hinted.
"It's crucial to demonstrate on the pitch what we've been preparing in training. I hope it comes together."
Raphinha
Raphinha is undoubtedly Barcelona's most impactful absentee. The Catalans have won all but one of the 26 matches in which the tireless Brazilian winger has started this season. His energy and creativity were sorely missed during the 4–0 thrashing by Atlético in the Copa del Rey semifinal first leg. When the two sides met again at Camp Nou for the return fixture, Raphinha netted in a commanding 3–0 victory.
"If there's one person who embodies the will to win at Barcelona, it's Raphinha," Flick praised earlier this season. Few players contribute more to Barcelona's victories than the No. 11.
Frenkie de Jong
Frenkie de Jong has not appeared for Barcelona in the Champions League since January. A suspension followed by a hamstring injury have kept the creative Dutch midfielder on the sidelines in the months since, though a return to action is drawing closer.
De Jong was absent from training sessions leading up to Wednesday's European fixture but is anticipated to play some role in this weekend's Catalan derby against Espanyol. The plan is for the Netherlands international to be fit in time for the second leg against Atlético, though that remains dependent on De Jong's unpredictable injury history.
Marc Bernal
Marc Bernal radiates youthful enthusiasm in everything he does. The tenacious defensive midfielder has developed a knack for scoring since being handed the run of starts he had been craving ever since recovering from an ACL injury last autumn.
Flick eventually placed his faith in the teenage sensation, starting him in eight consecutive matches from late February into March, only for Bernal to sustain an ankle injury as a substitute against Atlético over the weekend. Mundo Deportivo report the midfielder faces around 10 days on the sidelines and is already setting his sights on the second leg in Madrid. As usual, Barcelona's medical team considers that timeline optimistic.
Andreas Christensen
Andreas Christensen simply cannot catch a break. After sitting out 50 matches for club and country throughout the 2024–25 season due to a serious Achilles tendon problem, the Danish defender gradually worked his way back to fitness this term.
Christensen started three of Barcelona's opening seven league fixtures before succumbing to a calf problem. On his first start in three months, the former Chelsea centre-back scored in a Copa del Rey win over CD Guadalajara, only to leave the match with an "unfortunate knee twist." That subsequently turned out to be a partial ACL tear, which could well bring his Barcelona career to an early end as his contract runs out in June.