Araujo and Christensen, the only doubts for Barcelona to face Rayo

Hansi Flick led the first training session of the week for FC Barcelona this Thursday, after the three days of rest that the coach gave to the squad following the thrashing of Sevilla on Sunday (1-4). The squad returned to work with only two absences, in addition to the known long-term injuries (Ter Stegen and Marc Bernal). Both Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araujo were absent from the session and are doubtful for the match on Monday against Rayo in Montjuïc.

The Uruguayan international played only 22 minutes against the Seville team due to a hard blow to his right ankle. Although the club ruled out an injury, the '4' is still not training normally and could miss matchday 24 of La Liga. So far, Araujo has accumulated 553 minutes of action spread over 8 matches (1 goal and 1 assist), 7 of them as a starter (he only came off the bench in the Supercopa de España final against Real Madrid).

Christensen should receive medical clearance before facing Rayo

With Christensen, the prognosis is also not entirely clear. The Dane suffered an injury to the soleus of his right leg during a training session on January 27 and was expected to be out for three more weeks. That deadline is this Monday, so he should receive medical clearance in time to be included in the squad against Rayo. However, it will all depend on his ability to train normally on Friday and Saturday.

The 28-year-old defender missed the entire first half of the 24/25 season due to tendinopathy and played only 26 minutes in matchday 1 of LaLiga, against Valencia at Mestalla (1-2). This year he was on the bench against Getafe and Valencia in La Liga before getting injured again. Despite his complicated situation in Barcelona, Andreas ruled out listening to offers in the winter market and will try to fight for a place in the last three months of the season, as long as his physical condition allows.

For Barça, the Champions League playoffs provide a two-week breather in the schedule. After facing Rayo, the team will have six days to prepare for the visit to UD Las Palmas. The following week, action will return midweek, with the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals against Atlético de Madrid in Montjuïc. Real Sociedad, in La Liga and also at home, will be the next opponent for the azulgranas before facing the Champions League round of 16 in the first week of March.