Barcelona star ruled out of Alaves clash, but promising recovery news arrives

Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo will not feature in the team for their upcoming match against Alaves this Sunday.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the Spanish international did not take part in Thursday’s recovery session, confirming that he will not be ready in time for the game.

This is a continuation of his recovery process, following an overload in his right leg’s soleus muscle, which he sustained earlier this month.

Although Barcelona initially did not specify an exact timeline for his return, the absence of Olmo is now confirmed for this weekend’s match. The injury had already kept him out of the previous match against Atalanta.

There is some good news

While Olmo’s situation is a setback, there is some positive news for Barcelona as defender Inigo Martinez seems to be recovering quicker than expected.

Martinez, who has been out since sustaining a thigh injury during the Super Cup final on January 12, trained with the group on Thursday.

He had been dealing with a femoral biceps tear in his right thigh, and initially, the expected recovery time was set at four weeks.

However, his return to training is a promising sign that he may be available sooner than anticipated, possibly in time for Sunday’s match, though his participation is still uncertain.

This news comes after Barcelona secured second place in the first phase of the season, allowing them to avoid the playoffs.

With the team’s focus now on the next match, manager Hansi Flick has been leading the recovery sessions, preparing his squad for a tough encounter with Alavés.

Barcelona will have to move forward without Olmo, but the return of Martinez, who has been an important figure in their defence, could provide a much-needed boost.

It remains to be seen whether he will be ready in time for the match, but his progress in training is a positive development for the team.