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13 hours ago
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Barcelona fans may want to keep their fingers crossed and their hopes realistic.
As the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan approaches, head coach Hansi Flick has shared the latest on Robert Lewandowski and Alejandro Balde — and it’s not quite the news fans wanted.
Both players have been battling injuries and were absent from Friday’s training ahead of the weekend La Liga fixture.
Lewandowski is dealing with a thigh issue, while Balde is nursing a hamstring problem picked up last month.
Flick, speaking in a press conference, offered cautious optimism but held back from any guarantees.
“We have to wait and see how things progress day by day,” he said. “They’re on the right track, but we can’t take any risks.”
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Hansi Flick reveals when Lewandowski could return
With the La Liga title race still alive and El Clasico just around the corner, Flick is not keen on gambling with two of his key players.
Barcelona’s boss knows it’s a long season — and he’d rather not lose the game of fitness roulette.
When asked specifically about Lewandowski, Flick added, “He’s doing very well and his progress is much better than we expected. He might be back on Tuesday.”
But reading between the lines, it’s clear the coach won’t rush the veteran striker.
Balde, meanwhile, remains unlikely to feature. The 21-year-old left-back has missed key matches, including the first leg against Inter and the Copa del Rey final.
Though he’s pushing for a return, reports suggest he’s now targeting El Clasico instead.
In their absence, Gerard Martin and Ferran Torres have stepped up — but the shadow of Barcelona’s missing stars still looms large.
For now, all eyes are on Flick’s next move. Will he roll the dice or play it safe? One thing’s certain: the stakes couldn't be higher.
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Vishal Bhawani is a sub-editor for the Affiliate Content team and a writer and sub-editor for the Football Wires team at The Sporting News. Based in Indore, India, he holds a Diploma in Operations and Management from Maharashtra University.
Before joining TSN in May 2024, Vishal contributed to Football Express and Six Sports and ran his own blog, Anfield Home, as a passionate Liverpool fan. An avid traveler, he follows multiple sports, including cricket, soccer, and tennis.
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