Overview
- Hansi Flick confirmed Pedri will miss Sunday’s trip to La Cerámica as a precaution for hamstring-related discomfort, with the club expecting him back against Espanyol on Jan. 3.
- Frenkie de Jong is set to start in midfield alongside Eric García after Pedri missed training and was left out of the squad.
- Andreas Christensen was ruled out following a training knee blow, further thinning options in central defense alongside absences for Ronald Araújo, Gavi and Dani Olmo.
- Robert Lewandowski is available again after recent hamstring discomfort, with Flick saying the striker “can play.”
- Flick criticized FIFA’s Best XI as “a joke” for excluding Raphinha as Barcelona look to protect their four-point LaLiga lead before the winter break.