With a resurgent Real Madrid closing emerging as a late threat to Barca's title ambitions, Dembélé's return to full fitness could hardly come at a more urgent time.
Barcelona's seemingly unstoppable march to a 26th La Liga title has slowed with two consecutive draws but Ousmane Dembélé can return them to full speed when he makes his first start in four weeks against Real Valladolid on Saturday.
While the Catalans have been sweating on the fitness of Lionel Messi, who has completed their last two league games despite some discomfort in his thigh, the absence of Dembélé has been felt just as keenly.
The France forward had put his disciplinary problems aside in the last two months, carving up opponents with his unpredictable dribbles and forming a profitable trident with Messi and Luis Suarez.
His progress, however, was cut short by an ankle injury against Leganes on 20 January. Without Dembélé, Barça saw an eight-game winning run interrupted by a 2-2 draw at home to Valencia, and a 1-1 stalemate in a Copa del Rey semi-final first leg against Real Madrid.
He came on for 15 minutes against Athletic Bilbao, where Barca drew 0-0, with Suarez saying the team's attackers suffered from a lack of communication. Barca's record signing Philippe Coutinho has filled in for Dembele but has failed to dovetail with his fellow South Americans, Suarez in particular, who thrives off the space the Frenchman's rampaging runs create for him.
With a resurgent Real Madrid closing a gap of 10 points two games ago down to six and emerging as a late threat to Barca's title ambitions, Dembélé's return to full fitness could hardly come at a more urgent time.
Four difficult games in Barcelona
After facing 15th-place Valladolid, Barca face four consecutive tricky away games which could define their season, taking on Olympique Lyonnais in a Champions League last-16 first leg next week before visiting fourth-placed Sevilla.
They then visit Real for the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final before returning to the Santiago Bernabeu for a league fixture which could have a huge say in the destination of the title.
Real, who have won their last five league games and earned a 2-1 victory at Ajax Amsterdam in the Champions League on Wednesday, play at home on Sunday against a free-falling Girona side who last won in the league in November.
Atletico Madrid meanwhile visit struggling Rayo Vallecano, plotting their recovery from consecutive defeats to Real Betis and Real which have seen them drop to third, seven points from Barca.
Emmanuel1651
58
Some Barcelona fans that are saying We need to Rest Players like Messi, Suarez, Pique, Rakitic and others. I disagree with you people. Is a Shame to you people for not understanding The football Club you claimed you support. Barcelona is a Club that Always do Well against Big Teams Spain. Go and check Our previous Matches since the beginning of this season. Barcelona have only lost to Leganes and Real Betis. A Team Everybody was saying Barcelona will win. When Barcelona was to play Real Madrid in the first leg, Messi was injured and People were saying Real Madrid have the Chance to win, but We won 5-1. as a True Barcelona fan. We are supposed to be Afraid of Smaller Teams, not Big Teams because we always Found it very difficult to Win against them now... is better to Always win against Smaller teams and then when you are playing Bigger teams, you will not be Afraid. Last Season, we played unbeaten run, No Big Team was able to stop US, But a smaller Team Stopped US, not just stopped, but they Scored us 5goals. please we should always Study our Club, to know where and when we need to be Worry about.
apkwill
42
Indeed his return came at a correct time, as I figured already that with Dembele injury Barcelona may drop points, ever since he started playing most matches Barcelona went on to win most of their matches. But when he was out Barcelona felt his absence. I really love to c him play bcos he's the best for me.