Barça’s Training Ground Countdown: De Jong’s Return Hangs on a Big Champions League Night
6 April 2026
Injury and Training Update
Barcelona held a Monday training session at the Joan Gamper facility as they prepare for the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
The session was led by coach Hans Flick and featured Joao Cancelo, with a press conference planned for the following day. Frenkie de Jong did not train with the group, as he is in the final phase of recovery from a right hamstring issue.
The Dutch midfielder injury was sustained during a February 26 training session, with an estimated rehabilitation window of five to six weeks. The club hopes he will be fit in time for the Espanyol clash and the decisive second leg against Atletico.
On Thursday, after the Atletico game, the recovery window for De Jong will close, and Flick and his staff expect him to be ready for the match against Espanyol. The club also aims to give him some minutes in the Espanyol derby and to feature him in the return leg against Atletico Madrid at a Wembley-styled venue on April 14.
Absent from training were Marc Bernal, who suffered an ankle sprain in the previous Atletico match, and Andreas Christensen, who is still recovering from a partial ACL tear in his left knee.
Ronald Araújo trained with his teammates after requesting a substitution on Saturday at Wanda Metropolitano. The Uruguayan defender had a mild strain in his left thigh but is expected to be ready for the quarterfinal opening leg.
To complete the session, Flick called up several youth players: Tomás Márquez, Alvaro Cortés, Xavi Espart, and Diego Cuchín. Rafinha also attended the training complex after returning from Brazil to continue treatment for a right biceps femoris injury.
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