The Spanish league leaders have received a welcome boost ahead of their first competitive game since November 8.
Robert Lewandowski and Ronald Araujo will be available for Saturday’s Catalan derby between Barcelona and Espanyol.
Barcelona secured a temporary injunction against Lewandowski’s three-match ban in a Madrid-based court, freeing the striker for now from a suspension he had described as ‘too much for what I did’.
The ban came after Lewandowski’s double booking in Barcelona’s previous match at Osasuna on November 8, which ended a 2-1 win.
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) extended the Poland captain’s ban to three games for an alleged gesture made at referee Gil Manzano. The player denied these claims. He said the signal was for Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez, not the match official.
“It’s fantastic news we will have Robert, although it’s not the best situation to know a day before that he’s going to be able to play,” Xavi said in a pre-match press conference on Friday.
“He’s surprised about timings, but I’ve said it plenty of times: it was an unfair suspension, three games for just touching the nose.”
Araujo won’t start against Espanyol
Araujo, meanwhile, is back in the squad after three months sidelined with a muscle tear. The 23-year-old went to the World Cup with Uruguay, but couldn’t play any of the matches. He returned to Barcelona to continue his recovery afterward.
“We were with him at the World Cup,” Xavi said of Araujo.
“We spoke with the coach. In the end, the player’s sensations are decisive. This week he has been good. He gives everything. We will be cautious. He won’t play from the start. Maybe a few minutes, if not then in the next game.”
Saturday’s Catalan derby marks Barcelona’s first competitive game since the World Cup break. If Real Madrid defeat Real Valladolid on Friday, Xavi’s side will be under even more pressure to win.
As things stand, Barcelona hold a two-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga.
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