FC Barcelona will next be facing Valencia in La Liga as their opener for the official season. The Catalan giants did not exactly end their pre-season on the brightest note, but they can at least put it behind them now. Instead, Barcelona will now focus on getting some crucial points in the official season.
Unfortunately, not many of the team’s strongest players will be making it in time for the game. Gavi, Ronald Araujo, and Frenkie de Jong were already expected to miss the clash, but Ilkay Gundogan’s absence will now also hurt after having suffered an injury in the loss to Monaco.
On the bright side, however, a really positive news has arrived for Barcelona and Hansi Flick. As per the official club sources, former Golden Boy winner and key Barcelona midfielder Pedri has now been given the official green light from the club’s doctors to take part in this game.
The €80 million-rated Spanish star has been unavailable for both club and country since the European Championship clash against Germany in the summer, and after being tackled by former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos, Pedri had to be taken off the field and he has been in recovery ever since.
Now, following Hansi Flick’s great words of praise directed towards the player, it is now confirmed that he will take part in the match to some extent at least. As per the words of the Barcelona coach, however, fans will likely have to wait until the second half to see their special young midfielder take part.
Apart from Pedri, however, players like Dani Olmo and Ilkay Gundogan will not be present and their absence could be quite detrimental. In many ways, Flick will not be able to count on his strongest possible team against Valencia for this encounter but it is still demanded from Barça to achieve victory in this game.
