Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski is back from injury but midfielder Pedri will not make Sunday’s trip to Villarreal as the champions look to secure a four-point lead in La Liga, coach Hansi Flick said on the eve of the match.
Lewandowski missed the last two games with hamstring problems. Pedri, who also has a hamstring problem, was absent from the midweek last-32 win over Guadalajara in the Copa del Rey.
«Pedri is not available for tomorrow’s match. I’m not happy about it, but it’s part of football. Hopefully he can be with us again for the next match,» Flick told reporters on Saturday.
«(Lewandowski) is an option for tomorrow. He can play. We didn’t want to take any risks and now he is available.»
The trip to third-placed Villarreal is Barcelona’s last match before the Christmas holidays and Flick said he wanted to end the calendar year on a seven-match winning streak.
READ | Copa del Rey – Barcelona beats Guadalajara to advance to round 16
“It was an impressive year, full of success,” said Flick, who guided Barcelona to victory in La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup this year.
«I am very happy to have experienced all this in Barcelona. But that is in the past; now we have to keep working because we have big goals for this season.»
Published on December 20, 2025
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