Barca’s Anticipated Return to Camp Nou with Key Players Resuming

Lamine Yamal, who has been sidelined due to groin injuries for the past two months, is ready to make his return as Barcelona gets set to play at their home ground following a two-and-a-half-year hiatus due to renovations. The partially refurbished Camp Nou will host games with a diminished spectator capacity.

Yamal’s Resilience and Squad Updates

“He has put in tremendous effort during the past couple of weeks, and I’m genuinely pleased with his progress,” remarked Flick regarding the 18-year-old who was released from the national squad on November 11th.

In addition, Raphinha is also expected to rejoin the lineup after a hamstring injury kept him out since September. However, Marcus Rashford’s availability for Saturday remains uncertain due to a recent illness, as Flick noted.

Excited Return to Home Ground

Flick expressed the team’s enthusiasm about returning to Camp Nou for the first time since May 2023. The squad had spent the last two seasons playing their home games at the Olympic Stadium, where Flick led them to a league title during his inaugural year in 2024/25.

The players experienced an open training session at Camp Nou on November 7th, heightening the anticipation.

“Playing at Camp Nou is definitely preferable… as I walked through the training facility and made my way to the pitch, the atmosphere was unbelievable,” Flick shared. “It can provide us with a significant boost during the match because the supporters are so in tune with when the team needs their encouragement.”

Current Standings and Future Objectives

Currently, Barcelona sits in second place, trailing Real Madrid by three points in the league. They also find themselves 11th in the Champions League with a match against Chelsea on the horizon.

“Our goal is to focus on each game as it comes. I realize there is still a long way to go until the end of May… but we remain committed to our objectives and the style of play we want to implement,” Flick stated.

“Last season’s approach was similar… we need to focus on our own performance and strive to bring our best to every single match.”

Upcoming LaLiga Fixtures

Be sure to check out the rest of the week’s LaLiga matches listed here.