Barcelona 17-year-old academy gem trains with first team ahead of Valencia clash

FC Barcelona are all set to lock horns with Valencia at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Sunday night in La Liga, hoping to get their league campaign back on track.

The Blaugrana were held to a 1-1 draw by Getafe in the league last time out, allowing Real Madrid to open up a seven-point lead over them.

As such, Hansi Flick & co. are not in a position to afford any more slip-ups and will be eager to get back to winning ways in the Spanish top-flight.

Quim Junyent trains with first team

Barcelona will go into tomorrow’s game without star playmaker Dani Olmo, who is still recovering from a calf strain.

The 26-year-old’s return is unlikely until the La Liga clash against Deportivo Alaves next weekend as the Catalans are taking precautions with him given his track record of injuries.

As a result, Olmo was not in training with the Barcelona players today but instead, Flick called up teenage gem Quim Junyent from the academy to participate in the session with the senior stars, reports Mundo Deportivo.

Junyent, 17, was part of Barça’s pre-season tour last summer under Flick and got a few chances to showcase his talent.

A versatile midfielder, the youngster is part of the Juvenil A setup, and has two assists in six UEFA Youth League appearances this season. He has also appeared once for Albert Sanchez’s Barça Atletic side.

Named as one to watch out for the future by Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi, Junyent is held in very high regard at the club.

The Spanish youth international has not yet been called up to a matchday squad by Flick and it will be interesting to see whether that changes for Sunday’s contest against Valencia.

Meanwhile, apart from Olmo, Barcelona will also be without Marc Bernal, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and Inigo Martinez for the match due to injuries.