The good news Barca coach Xavi will get in April
The Blaugrana boss is missing four key players, who are on the way back
Barça have been somewhat short-handed at this stage of the season. Absences through injury have been accumulating and the squad has felt it, especially in the Copa del Rey, where they were unable to count on four key players to defend their 1-0 first leg semi-final lead from the Santiago Bernabéu.
De Jong, Pedri, Christensen and Dembele were unable to participate in the 4-0 battering and although Xavi makes no excuses, it is clear that he was without very important players for his scheme. The month of April, in that sense, has to be much more benevolent for Blaugrana interests. Xavi, bit by bit, will get his squad back to face the final stretch of La Liga and seal the title win.
Frenkie de Jong, very close
The Dutch international suffered a muscle injury against Real Madrid in the league derby and did not travel with his national team for the two matches that the 'Oranje' were due to play in the qualifiers for the European Championship. Although some of his team-mates, such as Memphis, doubted his problems, he has not played since.
If nothing bad happens, the midfielder could return to the team for Barça's next match against Getafe in Madrid next Sunday at 16:15. The player seems to be progressing well and could help the team confirm the league title in the near future.
Dembélé, out since January
Ousmane is the player who has been out of action for the longest period of time due to injury. He suffered a muscle rupture in the anterior rectus of his left thigh on 28 January in Barça's 1-0 win over Girona in Montilivi. He has not played since then. It seemed that he could return sooner than he will now, although he has not wanted to take any kind of risk due to his troubled medical history.
In that sense, the date for his return could be against Atletico Madrid, one of the most complicated matches the Blaugrana have left until the end of the season. It will be on Sunday 23 April at 16:15.
Pedri had to stop
The player from Tegueste had the Liga match against Real Madrid marked in red, just before the last national team break, after suffering a muscle injury in the first leg of the Europa League round of 16 against Manchester United. Since then he has been sidelined with an injury to the rectus anterior muscle in his right thigh.
He had to put the brakes on because he was not yet one hundred percent fit to compete, neither in the Liga Clasico nor in the Copa del Rey semi, where he did not take part either. It seems that he could return, like Dembele, for the match against Atlético in April.
Christensen must wait
The Danish centre-back is one of the victims of the 'FIFA virus' and returned injured from the last international break. It is a serious setback for Xavi because he was one of the most important players in defence. His injury, to the calf muscle in his left leg, has kept him out since then.
He will be the last player, if nothing bad happens, to reappear and he will do so against Rayo Vallecano, in the 30th week of the season, ending the month of April.
