On the eve of playing its first Champions League match, FC Barcelona has revealed its squad to face AS Monaco on Thursday at 9pm. In total, 23 players have been called up, including Ansu Fati. The former Catalan star will return to the most prestigious European competition, two years after his last appearance.
A returnee to face AS Monaco. On Thursday evening (9 p.m.), FC Barcelona travels to the Stade Louis II pitch for the first day of the new Champions League. On the eve of this trip, after training at the Ciudad Deportiva, Hansi Flick announced the 23 players called up, including Ansu Fati who is finally making his big comeback.
On its social networks, Barça confirmed the call-up of the former Catalan star, who has received the green light from the medical team. In Monaco, Ansu Fati will hear the Champions League anthem again, a first since November 1, 2022, almost two years ago. At the time, the Blaugrana won 4-2, thanks to goals from Marcos Alonso, Pablo Torre and a double from Ferran Torres.
Last season, the 21-year-old winger was on loan in the Premier League, at Brighton, playing under Roberto De Zerbi. But since his return to Catalonia this summer, the Spanish international has not played a single minute in an official match, due to a foot injury that occurred on July 24. After a missed pre-season and a tour of the United States, Ansu Fati is therefore making his big comeback. The Iberian striker had already returned to the group and collective training last week.
Barcelona without Fermin and Olmo injured
The bad news had been known since Sunday and the Pyrrhic victory against Girona (4-1). Author of the third goal, on an assist from Jules Koundé, Dani Olmo was injured about fifteen minutes later, forcing the Catalan recruit to give up his place to Éric Garcia.
On Monday, FC Barcelona revealed the medical conclusions that many feared. “Dani Olmo suffers from an injury to the biceps femoris of my right thigh. The duration of his absence is approximately four to five weeks,” reported the medical team. The day after this bad news, the Catalan fans received a second, with the relapse of Fermin Lopez.
“FC Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez has an injury to the anterior rectus muscle of his right thigh. The player was injured during training on Tuesday and will be out for approximately three weeks,” FC Barcelona announced on Tuesday.
…nor Gavi and De Jong too fair
While the Barcelona midfield is undermined by injuries, the supporters were inevitably waiting for the return of certain players playing in this sector: notably that of Frenkie De Jong and Gavi. As since the beginning of Hansi Flick’s mandate, the Barcelona staff is not taking any risks on the returns from injury, favoring maximum patience.
Even though the Dutch international completed part of the collective training on Monday, his absence was certain. Likewise for the young Spaniard, Gavi (20 years old), who resumed training last week, the Barcelona medical team was very clear on the return date of the midfielder, mentioning a possible comeback in October, or even November in order to take the least possible risk.
