FC Barcelona’s Midfield Boost: Pedri and Frenkie de Jong Expected for Champions League Quarter-Finals

FC Barcelona‘s path to the Champions League quarter-finals seems to be brightening up, with midfield maestros Pedri and Frenkie de Jong likely to make a comeback for the crucial stage of the competition.

The Catalan giants secured their spot in the last eight by overcoming Napoli 3-1, clinching a 4-2 aggregate victory in a gripping last-16 encounter between the top clubs from La Liga and Serie A.

Despite grappling with midfield injuries, Fermin Lopez and Ilkay Gundogan delivered standout performances alongside makeshift midfielder Andreas Christensen in the pivotal second leg.

The absence of midfield linchpin Gavi, who suffered an ACL injury while on international duty, has been keenly felt by Barca in recent weeks.

Following a promising partnership in the league, hopes were high for Pedri and De Jong to anchor the midfield alongside Gundogan in the decisive match against Napoli.

However, a setback struck early on in the clash with Athletic Club, as De Jong was forced off due to an ankle sprain, while Pedri limped off with a muscle injury in his right leg, dashing initial hopes of their immediate return.

Barcelona’s head coach Xavi Hernandez remains optimistic about Pedri’s chances of returning for the Champions League quarter-finals, with the player expected to also feature in the upcoming El Clasico showdown against Real Madrid.

The quarter-final first legs are scheduled for April 9 and 10, with the return fixtures set for the following week, ahead of the highly anticipated El Clasico at the Bernabeu on April 21.

On a positive note, Frenkie de Jong is on track to make a swift recovery and should be available for all three upcoming fixtures, providing a significant boost to Barcelona’s midfield lineup.

In another welcome development, forward Ferran Torres is set to make his long-awaited comeback after a spell on the sidelines since January, offering Xavi additional attacking options for the challenging fixtures ahead.

With the return of key players like Pedri and De Jong, Barcelona fans can look forward to a strengthened lineup as the team gears up for critical matches in both domestic and European competitions.