All eyes will be on Pedri when Barcelona face Levante this Sunday. A month after his injury, Hansi Flick will finally have his “orchestra conductor” back, at least for the second half.
Flick now needs his core players more than ever - the ones who carried Barcelona to last year’s successes. One, Raphinha, returned Monday. Despite playing 60 solid minutes, he couldn’t prevent a defeat in Girona. The other, Pedri, is expected to make an imminent return.
When will Pedri be back at full fitness?
Pedri’s comeback has become a top priority at Camp Nou, especially after a string of disappointing results. Barcelona is all but eliminated from the Copa del Rey after a 4-0 first-leg loss to Atlético Madrid, and they have slipped from the top of LaLiga following a 2-1 defeat at Montilivi.
Given this tense situation, Pedri’s return is being carefully managed. He has been out since Jan. 21, when he suffered a right hamstring injury against Slavia Prague in the Champions League. Flick plans to reintegrate him gradually.
For Sunday’s match against Levante, Pedri is expected to enter in the second half for about 15 minutes. A week later, against Villarreal, he could start and play roughly 60 minutes. The goal is for him to be ready to play the full 90 minutes in the Copa del Rey return leg against Atlético Madrid, aiming for a miraculous turnaround.
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With Pedri back, Flick can reorganize his squad and restore tactical coherence. The Canarian midfielder helps teammates find space, keep lines compact, increase pressing intensity, and multiply attacking options.
Raphinha’s return also gives Flick another boost. Although his comeback in Girona ended in defeat, his performance during the 60 minutes he played, including a shot that hit the post, was encouraging.
Flick is confident that the returns of Pedri and Raphinha will trigger an immediate positive reaction in the team, improving performance in both defense and attack.
Barcelona has three upcoming matches to regain momentum and rebuild confidence, with Pedri and Raphinha leading the charge.