Without a doubt, the injury suffered by Jules Koundé, who will miss the second leg against Inter Milan in the Champions League semifinals, has been an extremely tough blow for Barcelona. However, after this setback, fans have reasons to be hopeful following the 3-3 draw in the first leg, as the medical staff is working around the clock to get two key starters for Hansi Flick back in time.

Balde could return against Valladolid

The first of them, and the one most likely to play, is Alejandro Balde, who sustained a muscle injury on April 12 against Leganés. The estimated recovery time stated in the official medical report was three weeks… and, according to SPORT, the timeline is being followed perfectly. He might even make the squad list for this weekend’s match against Valladolid.

Obviously, despite his improvement over last season before suffering a serious injury, Barcelona fans are aware that Balde is possibly the ‘weakest’ piece in Flick's starting eleven. Still, it’s ironic that he’s also one of the most irreplaceable, considering the player who stepped in for him was Gerard Martin, who, although serviceable, was clearly Barcelona's weak link. So much so that Flick was forced to substitute him in the Copa del Rey final and in the last match against Inter Milan, replacing him with Iñigo Martínez at left-back.

Lewandowski eager to play against Inter Milan

It’s going to be tougher for Robert Lewandowski to make it back in time. In fact, his participation against Valladolid this week is almost ruled out… pending the official squad list from Hansi Flick. It’s worth noting that, like Balde, he also suffered a muscle injury — on April 19 against Celta — and was initially expected to return for El Clásico against Real Madrid on May 11. However, the Polish striker is obsessed with playing against Inter Milan.

Despite being 36 years old, Lewandowski has been meticulously managing his physical condition for years, which is why the medical staff at Barcelona is feeling increasingly optimistic. Still, the club is determined not to take any unnecessary risks, especially since Ferran Torres has been performing reliably as a striker. In fact, he was the one who scored the goal that allowed Barcelona to tie the first leg against Inter Milan before halftime. Therefore, if Lewandowski does recover in time, he’ll most likely start the match on the bench. Without a doubt, he’ll be a lethal weapon for Flick.