Barcelona refuse to give up hope despite a 0-2 first-leg defeat to Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final.
Barcelona: Start Pedri and De Jong, and We Can Beat Atlético
With the return leg at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano next week, the club believes a comeback remains possible—but only if two specific players start the match.
Raphinha’s absence complicates the task significantly. The Brazilian winger, a club captain and one of Hansi Flick’s most trusted players, will miss the decisive second leg through injury.
Without him, Barcelona look to their midfield to drive the remontada.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the club pins its hopes on Pedri and Frenkie de Jong.
The pair form Barcelona’s preferred double pivot, and the team’s ability to control possession and dictate play relies heavily on them.
Pedri left the first leg at half-time with minor discomfort but completed recovery work in Thursday’s training session.
He will likely rest against Espanyol this weekend to ensure maximum freshness for Tuesday’s clash in Madrid.
Frenkie de Jong returns from a hamstring injury. He took part in part of Thursday’s session with the group and will join Friday’s final practice.
The plan sees him feature in the second half against Espanyol to regain match fitness, then start against Atlético next week.
Barcelona firmly believes that Pedri and De Jong, when playing together, can impose their style on the match.
Their ball control and attacking sharpness through midfield passing offer the best chance to overturn the deficit.
The club refuses to accept elimination, understanding that Raphinha’s absence makes the midfield duo’s performance absolutely critical.
All eyes now fall on Tuesday. If Pedri and De Jong start and deliver, Barcelona might just keep their European dream alive.
