Barça plays for everything! Lewandowski ready, Balde almost out: What will happen in the Champions League?

FC Barcelona began this Sunday the preparation for the return leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals against Inter Milan with a mixed bag regarding their injured players.

In principle, Robert Lewandowski should be available, as he has returned to training with the rest of the group during the post-match recovery session against Valladolid.

Lewandowski joins the group 💪 pic.twitter.com/9EsuILSCjd

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) May 4, 2025

The Pole could not play against Mallorca (1-0), Real Madrid (3-2), Inter (3-3) and Valladolid (1-2) due to an injury to the semitendinosus muscle of his left thigh suffered two weeks ago against Celta (4-3).

Although, in principle, it was feared that the '9' would be out for around three weeks, he has finally overcome the discomfort in his thigh and would receive medical clearance this Monday. With this, Barça would only have 4 casualties due to injury for the rematch against the 'nerazzurri'.

🟢Lewandowski, ready to reappear in the Inter-Barça?

Robert Lewandowski, forward of FC Barcelona, in the match against RCD Mallorca

On Sunday, Lewandowski trained with the rest of the squad, without any apparent discomfort. The 36-year-old striker has 40 goals in 48 matches (3,671') with Barça this season, 11 of them in a dozen appearances in the Champions League.

In that sense, beyond the good work done by Ferran Torres in recent weeks (he scored against Real Madrid and Inter), the return of the '9' is excellent news for a team led by Hansi Flick forced to win in Milan to advance to the final.

With a squad full of young players, 'Lewy's' experience will be vital to face the most important match of the season so far. The Pole already scored a couple of goals against Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals. 

🔴Alejandro Balde, almost ruled out for the rematch against Inter

Alejandro Balde in a match against Alavés

However, not all was good news for Barça this Sunday. Unlike Lewandowski, Alejandro Balde still has not reappeared in training and is very likely that he will not be able to play on Tuesday against Inter either.

The full-back suffered a distal injury to the biceps femoris of his left leg against Leganés (0-1) from which he has not yet recovered. In principle, it was expected that the full-back would be out for 3 to 4 weeks.

Although the '3' left good feelings in the work apart from the group last week, he is still not in a position to return to action. With this, Gerard Martín would return to the starting lineup on Tuesday in Milan.

The '35' did not do well in the first leg at Montjuïc, but he did in the match on Saturday against Valladolid. Considering that Jules Koundé will also not be available at the Giuseppe Meazza, it is likely that Flick will entrust the flanks to Eric García and Martín himself.

🟡Marc Casadó also shortens the deadlines for his recovery

Another who is counting the days to return with the first team is Marc Casadó. The midfielder was expected to receive medical clearance in mid-May, but everything points to him shortening his recovery by around a week.

In Sant Pere de Vilamajor he suffered a partial tear of the external lateral ligament of his right knee in mid-March that could have ruled him out for the rest of 24/25.

However, his recovery has been successful through conservative treatment and he is likely to be in the squad for the Liga Clásico against Real Madrid next Sunday.

🏥The injured players of Barça:

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