At a glance
- Raphinha and Marc Bernal both received medical clearance from FC Barcelona on Saturday morning.
- Because of this, they were featured in the squad list for the trip to Osasuna.
- Barca can win La Liga with a victory in El Sadar and Espanyol beating Real Madrid.
FC Barcelona received a double boost on Saturday morning, before the first team squad set off on the plane from El Prat to Pamplona.
After lengthy spells on the sidelines, Raphinha and Marc Bernal both have medical clearance. As a consequence of this, they both made Hansi Flick‘s travelling list for Saturday’s vital La Liga clash with Osasuna.
Currently leading Real Madrid by 11 points, the Catalans can clinch the La Liga title this weekend. That’s if they’re victorious in El Sadar and Espanyol then beat Los Blancos, however.
While Raphinha had been out with a hamstring issue picked up on international duty, Bernal sprained his ankle in 2-1 La Liga win over Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano.
Raphinha was always expected to be out for five weeks. Yet Bernal’s absence timeframe was only put at a fortnight and he ended up missing a full month.
It goes without saying that the pair were sorely missed during both legs of the painful Champions League defeat to Atleti. That has to be put behind the team now, though. In the present, the opportunity to extend domestic dominance beckons.
Raphinha and Bernal could earn minutes in Barcelona Vs. Osasuna
Neither player is expected to start in El Sadar. It’d be lunacy to put them straight into the mix there, with El Clasico on the horizon.
In their places, Fermin Lopez will get the nod on Raphinha’s left wing while Gavi stars alongside Pedri and Dani Olmo in the midfield slots Bernal could occupy.
Facing Real Madrid on May 10 is the main goal, however. The duo have options to do so, though it depends on where things are as per their fitness, how they train next week, and what’s happening in the league.
It’s worth remembering that Barca lost in El Sadar last term. If that happens again, the Clasico becomes even more important. A defeat there if Madrid overcome Espanyol could reduce Barca’s lead to just five points, with three games remaining. Everything’s still possible at this point.
