Barcelona Receive Major Boost Ahead of Atlético Madrid Second Leg in Champions League Quarter-Finals

Barcelona have received a significant boost less than 24 hours after their painful 2–0 defeat to Atlético Madrid in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals at Camp Nou.

According to Mundo Deportivo, head coach Hansi Flick was handed positive news on Thursday as Frenkie de Jong took part in part of the team’s training session at the Joan Gamper training complex.

The Dutch midfielder had been sidelined since sustaining an injury to his right arm muscle during training on February 26, and has since been following a recovery program that kept him out of action.

The same report indicates that all signs point to De Jong making his return in the second half of Barcelona’s upcoming La Liga fixture against Espanyol on Saturday in Matchday 31.

Barcelona are hopeful that De Jong will regain full fitness in time to play a more significant role in the decisive second leg against Atlético Madrid next Tuesday at the Metropolitano Stadium, where the Catalan side must overturn a 2–0 deficit to reach the Champions League semi-finals.

De Jong remains a key figure in Flick’s squad, although the German coach will be without Pau Cubarsí due to suspension and Raphinha through injury, while Marc Bernal remains a doubt with a left ankle sprain.