Xavi provides Barcelona injury update ahead of Rayo Vallecano clash
Ter Stegen was forced to pull out of the Germany squad during the November international break due to a back problem, and he will not be risked against Rayo this weekend.
As a result, there will be just a sixth Barcelona appearance for Pena, with the 24-year-old preparing to make his first outing of the 2023-24 campaign.
Barcelona will also again be missing Sergi Roberto due to a calf problem, while Gavi is out for the remainder of the campaign due to the significant knee injury that he suffered while representing Spain last weekend.
However, there is some positive news on the injury front for the La Liga champions, with Frenkie de Jong available to return after being out since the end of September with an ankle problem.
«Tomorrow Marc [Andre ter Stegen] will not be able to be there and all the confidence in Inaki Pena, who is 100% prepared,» Xavi told reporters during his press conference Friday.
«We have noticed Frenkie's loss when he has not been there, like Pedri's. He is 100% fit, he has been with the group for days and is available.»
Xavi also admitted that Ronald Araujo and Raphinha were doubts for the game with Rayo due to their travelling schedules after representing Uruguay and Brazil during the international break.
«We are conditioned by the minutes. For example, Araujo and Raphinha have hardly trained, they have had to rest. We are worried about fatigue and the minutes,» he added.
«We do tests and injury prevention. We do tests to see how they are and thus decide the alignment… more than a small solution, which I think FIFA is
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