FC Barcelona has received some positive news ahead of their upcoming Copa del Rey quarter-final clash against Athletic Club in Bilbao. Two key players, Joao Cancelo and Andreas Christensen, have returned from injury and trained with Xavi Hernandez's first team on Tuesday morning.
Cancelo, who joined Barcelona on loan from Manchester City during the summer transfer window, has been a true revelation for the team. He has been a consistent presence on the pitch and has filled the void of a natural right back that the club was missing last season. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury to the medial collateral ligament in his left knee during a match against Las Palmas on January 4th. Since then, he has been sidelined and sorely missed, especially during their recent 4-1 loss to Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup.
In Cancelo's absence, Ronald Araujo has been deployed in his position. However, he struggled to contain Vinicius Jr. during the match against Real Madrid and was later sent off. It remains to be seen whether Cancelo will start in the upcoming clash against Athletic Club or if Araujo or Jules Kounde will continue in the right back position.
In addition to Cancelo's return, Andreas Christensen also trained with the team, providing Xavi with more options in central defense. Christensen's presence will certainly boost the team's defensive capabilities and provide more depth in that position.
Further adding to the positive news for Barcelona is the emergence of young talent Pau Cubarsi. The La Masia graduate celebrated his 17th birthday on Monday and made a strong impression during his debut against Real Betis, helping the team secure a 4-2 victory. Cubarsi's performance has presented a compelling case for him to partner with Araujo in the heart of the defense.
With the team coming off a solid win against Real Betis and with the return of Cancelo and Christensen, Barcelona is now fully focused on the Copa del Rey as they aim to secure a title in the 2024/2025 season. The upcoming clash against Athletic Club provides a realistic chance for Barcelona to add another trophy to their collection.
As Xavi finalizes his squad list, fans eagerly await the pre-match press conference this afternoon, where the final lineup and strategy will be revealed. The return of Cancelo and Christensen, along with the promising performance of young Cubarsi, signals a positive turn of events for Barcelona's defense and raises hopes for a successful Copa del Rey campaign.
