SETTABLOID

Barcelona kick off their season run-in on Saturday, when they host Las Palmas at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys. A victory would keep their slim hopes of winning La Liga alive, and the Catalan giants aren’t giving up in their attempts to retain the title they won in 2022-23.

Despite Las Palmas going into the match in poor form, having failed to win any of their last five matches, it’s still been a very good season for the Gran Canaria-based side. Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez expects a very tough test this weekend, as he said during his press conference (via MD).

“In front of us, we will have an opponent who plays very good football, players who are very technically gifted and who resemble what we are looking for. Pimienta works very well and they come to show, with a lot to win and little to lose.”

Xavi also confirmed reports from MD that Andreas Christensen won’t be risked against Las Palmas, but he is counting on Ronald Araujo and Jules Kounde.

“They’re all fine except Andreas, who is still suffering from discomfort. Ter Stegen was a scare. Kounde and Araujo are fine.”

It makes sense for Barcelona not to risk Christensen, as he’s likely to be their starting pivot for that first leg against Paris Saint-Germain, provided that he is fit. It gives an opportunity for Oriol Romeu to earn a rare start, or it could be Ilkay Gundogan that operates in a deeper role.

The full-back has attracted interest

Barcelona have reportedly rejected a €35 million offer for young right-back Hector Fort who has attracted interest after breaking into the first team.

Mundo Deportivo are reporting that Barca have received the bid and quickly turned it down, although there’s no detail on which club were eager to sign the 17-year-old.

Fort is contracted to Barcelona until 2025, and has a €10m release clause in his deal, but the club are said to be keen to secure his long-term future.

The teenager certainly seems to have a bright future at the club. He’s made seven appearances in all competitions this season, playing on both flanks for Xavi’s side.

Fort will be hoping he can go on and cement his position in the squad for next season and has a great chance with doubts over who will play at right-back next year.

Joao Cancelo is only on loan from Manchester City and is not guaranteed to stay at Barca, while we all know that Jules Kounde wants to play at centre-back.

Julian Araujo is expected to return from Las Palmas and be given a chance to stake a claim, but Fort will surely also get a chance to make the spot his own.

A headline member of the first-team setup at Real Madrid has on Monday moved to reveal his appreciation for the talents of Barcelona sensation Pau Cubarsí.

Stopper Cubarsí, for his part, is currently in the midst of his first experience with the Spanish national team.

Owing to a remarkable breakout couple of months on the books of Barcelona, the 17-year-old was this month afforded his maiden call-up by La Roja head coach Luis de le Fuente.

And it did not take Cubarsí at all long to make his mark, featuring from the bench in his country’s friendly defeat at the hands of Colombia over the weekend.

Expected to be handed yet further minutes to impress against Brazil on Tuesday night, it is therefore safe to say that the defender, despite his tender years, already boasts the trust of the Spanish coaching staff.

And, evidently, Cubarsí has impressed his new teammates on the international stage over the course of the last week, too.

Speaking in a press conference on Monday, Dani Carvajal was asked for his take on the youngster’s explosion onto the scene in Spain.

And, after sending a message of congratulations the way of Cubarsí, the Real Madrid stopper went on to put Clásico rivalries to one side, in confirming his belief that the Barcelona man is a legitimate candidate to take his place in the Spanish squad for the upcoming European Championships:

“I congratulate him on his debut. In training and in the few minutes he had [on the pitch] he didn’t look out of place at all. Also with his club a very high level is being seen. He is another of the candidates to be at the European Championships.”

Conor Laird | GSFN

Barcelona are confident about recruiting Girona midfielder Aleix Garcia as they look to strengthen their squad in the summer.

In a recent report, Mundo Deportivo mentioned that Barcelona are confident about recruiting Girona ace Aleix Garcia this summer. It has been stated that the Catalan club are eyeing a move to bring the Spanish midfielder to the Nou Camp at the end of this season.

 

Barcelona face one of their biggest test of the season next month when they lock horns with PSG in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League.

Having gotten past Napoli in the Round of 16, the Catalans will be facing Kylian Mbappe & co., managed by Luis Enrique.

Heading into the first leg of the quarterfinals, which will take place on April 10, PSG have some injury concerns, which could be a welcome boost for Barça.

Marquinhos an injury doubt

As reported last week, PSG winger Bradley Barcola suffered an injury on international duty with France Under-21s and is a doubt for the Barcelona clash.

Now, Mundo Deportivo reports that PSG captain and defensive mainstay Marquinhos is also a doubt for the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals against Barça.

The Brazilian defender, 29, has not been seen in action since the game against Nantes on February 17 due to an Achilles tendon problem.

It was initially expected that the injury was not serious, but Marquinhos proceeded to miss four Ligue 1 matches since and is still dealing with the discomfort.

As such, Marquinhos is considered a doubt for PSG’s upcoming match against Olympique de Marseille on Sunday.

Furthermore, his availability for the game against Barcelona on April 10 is not clear either. The Brazilian’s potential absence would come as a big boost for the Blaugrana for he is a key player for the Parisians.

Who else could miss?

As mentioned earlier, Barcola’s availability is not clear at this point, along with that of Marquinhos.

Beyond that, Milan Skriniar is also considered a doubt due to an ankle issue while Presnel Kimpembe is expected to miss out completely.

Meanwhile, Marco Asensio is working to recover from a hamstring problem in time for the Barcelona clash.