Fatigue forces Barcelona to handle key players differently before El Clasico showdown | OneFootball

According to Mundo Deportivo, the aftermath of Barcelona’s 3-4 loss to Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-final second leg has left the squad physically drained.

The match, which went into extra time, demanded a lot from the players, and the effects were clear just days before the high-stakes Clasico against Real Madrid.

On Thursday, Barcelona held a recovery and compensation session at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper to help players bounce back in time.

Several first-team regulars, who played a key role at San Siro, were not seen on the pitch, suggesting they were undergoing personalised treatment inside the facilities to be fully fit for El Clasico.

Key stars missing from the pitch

According to the outlet, in the footage shared by the club, only a handful of players were seen training outdoors.

These included Gavi, Pau Victor, Robert Lewandowski, Alejandro Balde, Ansu Fati, Fermin Lopez, Hector Fort, Marc Casado, Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, and Inaki Pena, alongside young talents like Noah Darvich and Landry Farre.

Gerard Martin and Pau Cubarsi were spotted working separately on the pitch, indicating lighter sessions for them.

Other senior players—such as Inigo Martinez, Eric Garcia, Pedri, Dani Olmo and Raphinha—were seen in the background, suggesting that they may be easing their way back into full training.

However, several crucial names were completely absent from the training footage, including Wojciech Szczesny, Lamine Yamal, Ronald Araujo, Frenkie de Jong, Ferran Torres, and Andreas Christensen.

This likely means they remained indoors for targeted recovery work aimed at making sure they are ready for the upcoming clash against Real Madrid.

After the session, the entire squad and coaching staff stayed at the training centre for a planned team meal.

While it was scheduled in advance, the timing couldn’t be better. It gave the group a chance to relax, reset, and strengthen their unity as they enter the most important phase of the season.

With El Clasico just around the corner, Barcelona are doing everything possible to ensure their key players are fit and firing for what could be a season-defining match.