Barcelona coach prioritizes recovering another player over Lewandowski for the UCL clash against Inter – Report | OneFootball

FC Barcelona are soon set to play some crucial games for their season moving forward. Still alive in all major competitions, La Blaugrana hope to win all three if possible. However, Barcelona will need to win their upcoming games to make that dream a reality.

First is a Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid, and that match simply decides the first of the three remaining major trophies this season. While Barcelona have already defeated Los Blancos in a cup final this season, this match is yet another massive test for them.

However, soon afterwards, Hansi Flick’s team will take on Inter Milan in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final tie. Set to take place at the Montjuic Stadium, it is a game in which Barcelona will have to secure a good result before heading over to Italy for the second leg.

Unfortunately, there are some injuries that Barça will have to deal with heading into those crucial fixtures. Both Robert Lewandowski and Alejandro Balde are currently out injured, and the Polish striker is set to remain sidelined for a few weeks as he tries to return to match fitness as soon as possible.

Still, according to AS, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick seems to prioritize the return of Balde over that of Lewandowski for now. The reason behind this takes into account the quality of both players, but more importantly takes into account the alternative options that are available in their specific positions.

Over in the centre-forward role, Flick seems to have a lot of confidence in both Ferran Torres and Dani Olmo. Even previously, they have showcased that dominant victories are possible even if the veteran Polish striker is not available or on the pitch.

However, the left-back position seems to create more concerns. While Gerard Martin is a decent alternative option, he does not possess the dynamism and explosiveness that Balde offers on that left flank. As a result of that, the team’s progression on that flank is a lot more predictable without their starting left-back.

While both Lewandowski and Balde are expected to miss the Copa del Rey final, there is optimism that the latter could return in time for the first leg of the UEFA Champions League game against Inter Milan. If he does manage to do that, however, Barcelona would receive a massive boost ahead of a potentially season-defining game.