Barcelona have been handed a major boost ahead of Sunday's La Liga contest against Real Madrid, with Alejandro Balde returning to training with the Catalan giants on Thursday after a spell on the sidelines.
Balde has not featured for the Catalan giants since damaging a hamstring against Leganes on April 12, missing the team's last three league matches, in addition to their last three Champions League fixtures.
The 21-year-old's recovery has been slower than expected, as he had initially been pencilled in to receive some minutes against Real Valladolid in La Liga last weekend, with a view to then starting against Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
However, Balde missed both of those fixtures, as he was unable to make a return to training.
The Spain international featured alongside his teammates on Thursday, though, and the expectation is that he will be available to start El Clasico in what is a huge fitness boost.
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Balde 'set to be fit' for El Clasico
Balde has been in excellent form for Barcelona during the 2024-25 campaign, scoring once and providing 10 assists in 43 appearances.
Gerard Martin impressed from an attacking point of view against Inter, with his crossing from the left-back spot proving to be particularly eye-catching, but he struggled defensively.
Balde's return is huge news for Barcelona, while Robert Lewandowski is also in line to start against Real Madrid after making his return from a hamstring issue off the bench against Inter.
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Which Barcelona players will miss El Clasico?
Marc Bernal is out for the remainder of the season, as he continues to recover from a serious knee injury, while Jules Kounde faces a battle to return before the end of the campaign, with the Frenchman battling a hamstring issue.
Barcelona are also again set to be without the services of both Marc Casado and Pablo Torre for the La Liga title showdown.
Casasdo has recently returned to training after recovering from the knee injury which has sidelined him since March, but this match is expected to come too soon for the Spain international.
Torre, meanwhile, is still recovering from the knee issue which he suffered ahead of last weekend's La Liga clash with Real Valladolid, but both the 22-year-old and Casado could return for the clash with Espanyol on May 15.
Matt Law
