Pedri leaves good feelings against Alavés ahead of the 'final' against Atlético

Published New:30/11/2025 - 01:56h

Updated New:30/11/2025 - 01:57h

Pedri González reappeared with Barça against Alavés (3-1) after a month out due to injury. The midfielder played 30 minutes in which he showed good form and is shaping up to be a possible starter against Atlético

FC Barcelona welcomed back Pedri González on matchday 14 of LaLiga EA Sports 2025/26. The 22-year-old midfielder had not played since October 26th against Real Madrid (2-1), as he suffered a left thigh injury just after the Clásico, which forced him to miss a couple of league matches and the same number of Champions League games.

Against Alavés (3-1), the player from Tegueste came on for Raphinha in the 60th minute and left very good impressions in the half hour he was on the field. In total, the Spanish international completed 27 out of 29 passes (93%), as well as creating a couple of goal-scoring opportunities and recovering 2 balls in the opponent's half.

Pedri accompanied **Marc Casadó** for the final half hour of a match in which Barça went behind very early after a goal from Pablo Ibáñez in the first minute. **Frenkie de Jong** was out due to a family matter, while Marc Bernal partnered the '17' in the defensive double pivot.

Casadó was responsible for the Vitoria goal, with a short clearance and a late exit to enable the goal scorer. Bernal, in the 45 minutes he played, was also somewhat imprecise in covering spaces, which is normal considering his limited game time so far in 25/26.

Pedri could return to the lineup on Tuesday against Atlético

In this regard, although Hansi Flick is usually very careful with managing the minutes of all players returning from injury, it is likely that Pedri will return to the starting XI next Tuesday against Atlético (9:00 PM CEST). The good feelings of the '8' against Alavés give confidence to the coaching staff regarding giving him more prominence in the rescheduled match of matchday 19

Prior to his muscle injury, the player from Tegueste was the only one who had started in all of Barça's matches in 25/26 (13 up to that point). The Spanish international's work provides the team with order and composure in transitions, as well as a crucial support system in recovery when opponents try to get behind the Catalan defenders

Barça only managed to keep a clean sheet in one of their last 12 games. **Without Pedri in the XI, however, the team was able to win 5 out of 6 matches**, with the visit to Chelsea, for the Champions League, being the only exception (3-0).

"We'll see, let's see tomorrow in recovery. We don't have many days left. But Pedri is fine, I've asked him," Flick explained in the press conference after the victory against Alavés about the possibility of him starting next Tuesday.

Barcelona-Atlético, a 'final' for the LaLiga lead

The truth is that, for the match against the 'Mattress Makers', the Barça coaching staff will try to have their star team available at the Spotify Camp Nou. Both teams won on Saturday and only 3 points separate them in the LaLiga standings, currently led by the Catalans with 34 points

Diego Simeone's team defeated Oviedo at the Metropolitano (2-0) with goals from Alexander Sorloth (brace). Atleti arrives for the visit to Barça with 6 consecutive victories in the tournament in which they have only conceded 1 goal. Furthermore, in 24/25, they were able to win at Montjuïc (1-2, Pedri's goal for Barça) and was one of the rivals that gave Flick's team the most trouble in the League and Cup.

The 'colchoneros' also rescued a draw at Lluís Companys in the first leg of the Copa del Rey 'semis' (4-4) and, in the return leg in Madrid, Barça barely made a difference with a solitary goal from Ferran Torres (0-1). In their visit to the Metropolitano, in La Liga, there was also a Barça victory (2-4), thanks to a brutal comeback in the last 20 minutes (the 'rojiblancos' were up 2-0 at the 70' mark).