Jordi Alba ready for the Clasico, hard for Semedo to be fit
Barcelona left-back Alba should be ready to face Real Madrid
Ernesto Valverde's first choice full backs Jordi Alba and Nelson Semedo are out injured. However the Spaniard should be fit to replace Junior Firpo for the Clasico on December 18 as he bids to return from his hamstring problem. Semedo, on the other hand, will find it hard to be back for the game so Sergi Roberto will fill in.
The coming days are crucial for Alba, to see when he's ready to do ball work and make physical contact with his team-mates. SPORT revealed that Barca will take full precaution over him, not wanting any relapse to occur. The player is optimistic to be back for the Clasico. It's important he gets some minutes against Real Sociedad before that.
It was on Nov 5 that he suffered a relapse of his hamstring problem, which is now a month ago.
SEMEDO, AGAINST THE CLOCK
The Portuguese right back suffered his calf injury five days after Alba and was ruled out for five weks. He would in theory be back three days before the Clasico in the best case scenario, which seems too short a time period to be ready. Sergi Roberto did the job perfectly well at the Wanda Metropolitano, so Semedo may miss out.
Topics with the letter