Barcelona manager Hansi Flick confirmed Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo have returned from injury ahead of the Catalans’ clash with Elche.
Both players have been out since the October international window. Lewandowski sustained a hamstring injury while representing Poland, and Olmo suffered a calf muscle injury while training with Spain.
Barcelona have been without the two starters for their last three matches against Girona, Olympiacos and Real Madrid, but both Lewandowski and Olmo are available against Elche, an update Flick called “great for us” on the eve of the La Liga bout.
Now five points back from Real Madrid, Barcelona need Olmo’s playmaking and Lewandowski’s clinical right foot more than ever. The German boss is still proceeding with caution, though, and does not want to rush his two stars back into action too quickly.
“We’ll see how Lewy and Olmo are [against Elche], and then we’ll decide for the rest of the matches,” Flick said in his prematch press conference.
The defending Spanish champions will welcome any involvement from both Lewandowski and Olmo amid their recent injury woes. Pedri became the latest player confined to the treatment room, joining Raphinha, Joan García, Marc-André ter Stegen, Gavi and Andreas Christensen on the sidelines.
