Barcelona €80m-rated fan favourite a doubt for Benfica clash after missing training | OneFootball

Following their resounding win over Real Sociedad in La Liga on Sunday, FC Barcelona returned to training today at the Ciutat Esportiva, with the focus shifting to the UEFA Champions League clash against SL Benfica.

The Blaugrana will travel to Lisbon to take on the Portuguese giants in the first leg of the Round of 16 tie on Wednesday.

Gavi a doubt

Leading up to the tie, SPORT reports that with just 48 hours to go before Benfica vs. Barcelona, Gavi has emerged as a doubt for the match.

The Spanish midfielder did not train on Monday with the rest of the squad, leaving his availability for Wednesday’s clash uncertain.

Monday’s training session followed the usual post-match routine: players who featured less against Real Sociedad trained at a higher intensity, while the starters focused on recovery work.

Gavi’s availability vs Benfica uncertain. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Gavi was expected to train with the first group, but he was unable to do so due to a fever. The La Masia graduate arrived at the Ciutat Esportiva, where medical staff assessed his condition before he left the facilities without stepping onto the pitch.

Now, the main concern is how he will recover in the coming hours, especially with the team set to travel to Lisbon on Tuesday afternoon. While Barcelona hope he can board the flight, his condition remains uncertain.

Gavi was set to start in Sunday’s match against Real Sociedad but ended up being an unused substitute due to the same illness.

The midfielder showed slight improvement and even warmed up during the second half. However, Hansi Flick opted to give minutes to other players.

Although there are still two days until the match, it seems unlikely that Gavi will be in the starting XI at Estadio da Luz.

Not only is his full recovery uncertain, but Dani Olmo has also strengthened his case for a starting role in attacking midfield after his strong performance against Real Sociedad.

*Player valuation in title obtained from transfermarkt.com on date of publication.