Barcelona and Lionel Messi have received a good news ahead of their La liga santander game against Atletico Madrid at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday as Brazil midfielder Philippe Coutinho return to training with the squad.
After suffering an injury prior to the international break, it was unclear whether or not the former Liverpool playmaker would be ready to return for the trip to the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano, however Tuesday morning saw him train fully with his teammates.
Throughout the international break he has been working independently on his own recovery, even seeing his own physiotherapist in Benicassim, and as a result there is a growing confidence he could be involved on Saturday.
The ailment wasn't minor but it could have certainly been worse, a small issue in the femoral biceps of his right leg kept him out of the defeat to Real Betis but the overall absence will have only been around two weeks should the Brazilian return in the Capital.
Barcelona have a very tough test upon their return from the international break, as they visit the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano to take on Atletico Madrid with an advantage of just one point in the LaLiga Santander table. This could prove to be a decisive match in the title race and Ernesto Valverde will have to move things around on the tactics board ahead of the trip to Spanish capital.
During Lionel Messi's absence through injury, Valverde had evolved his Barcelona side and they were achieving excellent results, even if they weren't quite as dazzling as attack as they are with the Argentine.
Lionel Messi is now back and there's a need to reconfigure the system to find a balance, something they couldn't quite manage as they lost 4-3 to Real Betis in the forward's first game back.
As much as Messi attacks like nobody else, he doesn't press like Rafinha had been doing in his absence and he doesn't dominate the wing like Ousmane Dembele can. As such, Valverde must find a solution to keep similar midfield domination, while simultaneously exploiting Messi's attacking talent. This task won't be easy given that the Catalan club are missing Ivan Rakitic, who is both injured and suspended.
The Croatian midfielder has been the most-used player in recent months and will be tough to replace. Arturo Vidal and Sergi Roberto are both candidates to come in for him, but Vidal won't have had much preparation time after this international break and Roberto's inclusion in midfield would leave Nelson Semedo at right-back.
On top of that, it is not certain that Philippe Coutinho will start the game against the Rojiblancos who are desperately in need of a win against the Blaugrana.
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