The Pichichi Nears His Comeback

Good news for FC Barcelona. After missing the Trofeu Joan Gamper and the LaLiga opener against Mallorca, Robert Lewandowski completed almost the entire latest training session with his teammates. The Polish striker, who netted 42 goals last season, is confident he will make the squad for the upcoming clash with Levante at the Ciutat de València.

The forward only sat out the final portion of the practice, a minor detail that hasn’t dampened the optimism surrounding his return. Flick could give him minutes to regain rhythm in this second league matchday.

Flick Backs the Youngsters

While waiting for his star striker to return, Hansi Flick continues to place his trust in academy players. Jofre Torrents, Dro, Guille Fernández, and Toni Fernández have already earned their spot in the first-team dynamic after completing the entire preseason and making the squad for the league opener in Palma.

The German coach decided none of them would travel with the reserve side to Brazil, where Barça Atlètic and Juvenil A will contest the Intercontinental U-20 Cup final against Flamengo—a historic duel set to take place at the Maracanã.

Frenkie Absent With Permission

The session also had a notable absence: Frenkie de Jong. The Dutch midfielder was missing, though for a very special reason. The club granted him permission to accompany his partner for the birth of their second child, a piece of news celebrated both in the dressing room and among Barça fans.

A Barça Regaining Its Strength

Lewandowski’s imminent return is the big news for Barcelona at the start of this campaign. With the Polish forward ready to get back on the pitch and the youngsters increasingly integrated, Flick is starting to recover key pieces for a season in which Barça aims to be a protagonist on all fronts once again.