Which injured Barca stars will return for Clasico?

"There are six days to go until the derby. We won't force anyone. If they're not 100 per cent they won't play because it's not worth forcing them." Xavi Hernández made his position on the injured players clear yesterday. Their participation will depend on their recoveries and no unnecessary risks will be taken.

The coach was asked directly about which players would be available for the Clasico and he gave some clues. The coach completely ruled out Jules Koundé and practically Sergi Roberto. And from here he left the rest of the possibilities open.

In other words, Frenkie de Jong, Robert Lewandowski, Pedri and Raphinha are not ruled out for the derby. The feelings of each of them will determine their availability, but in the next training sessions it will become clear which ones have more chances of making the clash. For a start, Canary Islander Pedri is the one who seems to be closest to making a comeback. Lewandowski is also progressing very well. The midfielder has every chance of playing a few minutes in Wednesday's Champions League match against Shakhtar in Montjuïc.

If confirmed, he would also be included in the squad for the Clasico, although he would arrive with hardly any playing time and therefore it seems very unlikely that he would be in the starting line-up. Xavi is having to manage a very complicated situation: a tight and demanding schedule with key structural absensces in the team.

Barça are missing much of the backbone of the team. Xavi has even had to look to Barça Atlètic and the youth A team to complete the call-up lists. An opportunity for some of the club's most promising players. The most striking case is that of Marc Guiu, a player of only 17 years of age, who has already played more minutes with the first team than with the reserve team.

A regular in the youth team, he came on against Athletic late in the game and scored the goal of his life in his first appearance for the first team. The striker is not among the players Barça registered for the Champions League in September but, according to the regulations, the club still has the possibility to do so in order for him to play against Shakhtar on Wednesday. 

Xavi had opted for Alarcón, a player who already knew what it was like to play for the first team last season, and Lamine Yamal, the first team's big breakthrough this season. Marc Guiu was then left out -- but now he might be called on.