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FC Barcelona’s LaLiga match against Real Valladolid on May 3 is set to be an emotional moment for Barcelona fans as their long-time goalkeeper Marc Andre Ter Stegen is set to return to action. The German shot-stopper was injured early during the season with a patellar tendon rupture which has kept him out for an extended period. Barcelona then signed Wojciech Szczesny to replace Ter-Stegen in the team and he has since performed exceptionally. As a reason, even after Ter Stegen’s return to action a couple of weeks ago, Szczesny has still been the first-choice goalie for the Blaugrana.
However, after an intense midweek matchup against Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-final, Barcelona are now set to face Real Valladolid at the weekend and Hansi Flick is expected to make several rotations to the squad in order to rest some key players. While other players of the starting XI will be revealed just before the match, Flick has confirmed that Marc Andre Ter Stegen is set to replace Szczesny in goal and will start against Valladolid. Szczesny has started every match since mid-January and will get some well-deserved rest.
Hansi Flick provides update about Lewandowski and Balde’s return from injury
While Flick will rotate and give rest to some of his key players, he knows the magnitude of this fixture in the LaLiga title race as Barcelona hold just a tender four-point lead against Real Madrid at the top of the table. Any slip-ups now could cost them the league title. Hence, Flick will be careful enough to balance between giving rest and fielding a strong team to ensure a victory.
During the press conference, Flick also issued updates about the recoveries of Robert Lewandowski and Alejandro Balde. He said, “We'll wait until day after tomorrow for both Lewandowski and Balde to understand their recovery.” Of the two, Balde is expected to return as early as next week’s second leg tie against Inter Milan.
