Barça-PSG: Balde will be medically cleared, but Gerard Martín will start

FC Barcelona will recover Alejandro Balde this Wednesday for matchday 2 of the league phase of the UEFA Champions League, against Paris Saint-Germain (21:00 CEST). The left-back missed the last four Barça matches due to an injury to the biceps femoris of his left leg, but he has met the recovery deadlines set by the culé medical staff.

Álex was injured during the September international break in a training session at the Ciutat Esportiva and was expected to be out for around three weeks. Well, the club has given him almost a month of rest to avoid new relapses in an area where he was also injured in April of this year.

Balde will return against PSG, but he will do so as a substitute

Alejandro Balde, during the Levante-Barça (2-3).

During Monday, the '3' trained alongside the squad during the recovery session and will be available for Hansi Flick against PSG. However, as happened with Lamine Yamal against Real Sociedad, the coach will keep him on the bench. If the context of the match allows it, Balde could add minutes in the second half, as a replacement for Gerard Martín.

Before getting injured, the 21-year-old defender was a starter in the first three matchdays of La Liga, accumulating 222 minutes of action. Previously, in the pre-season, he was a starter in three of the four friendlies played by Barça (he played 213').

Beyond Flick's confidence in Gerard Martín, the '3' will return to the starting lineup after the October break, once he regains competitive rhythm. Balde provides much more security in marking and, in addition, he has greater depth to associate with Raphinha and/or Marcus Rashford on the left side. 

Hansi Flick ratifies his confidence in Gerard Martín

Gerard Martín posing with his new number in Barcelona.

However, against PSG, Martín will continue in the XI for the fifth consecutive match. The '18' already has 401 minutes of action this season and continues to improve in defense and attack, although in this last facet he still has a notable margin for growth.

"He is a player who you know what he can give you: he never disappoints you; he always gives everything he has", Flick said about Gerard in the press conference after the comeback against Real Sociedad (2-1).

Similarly, the coach valued the effort of the 23-year-old full-back to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the calendar and the wear and tear of the squad (injuries).

"It's fantastic to see these youth team players grow in the first team. It is our job to give them the opportunity and for them to take advantage of it as Gerard has done", the German pointed out. 

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