Headline: Barcelona Engages Academy Prospects Ahead of Alaves Match Amid Injury Concerns
Barcelona has incorporated three academy players into first-team training as coach Hansi Flick gears up for the La Liga match against Alaves on Saturday. According to Mundo Deportivo, academy players Guillem Victor, Alex Campos, and Ebrima Tunkara participated in the final training session at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, as Flick evaluates his lineup ahead of the weekend clash.
Barcelona is facing a challenging situation with numerous injuries, particularly in defense. Jules Kounde will miss the Alaves match after not returning to group training, while Eric Garcia, Andreas Christensen, and Xavi Espart remain out.
Guillem Victor and Alex Campos Provide Defensive Reinforcements
Flick has once again looked to Barça Atletic for solutions to their defensive shortages. Nineteen-year-old right-back Guillem Victor and eighteen-year-old center-back Alex Campos trained with the first team ahead of the upcoming match against Alaves.
Both players could potentially be included in the matchday squad, although their participation is not yet confirmed. Campos has previously gained experience at the first-team level, having been listed in squads for games against PSG and Real Madrid.
Training with the senior squad gives Victor and Campos a valuable opportunity to prove their readiness, even if they do not make their senior debut against Alaves.
Ebrima Tunkara Remains in First-Team Setup
Sixteen-year-old Ebrima Tunkara also continues to train with the senior team. Capable of playing as an interior midfielder or an attacking midfielder, Tunkara’s inclusion responds to the injury-induced absence of Dani Olmo. He performed impressively during pre-season under Flick and has been involved with the first team over the past week.
In addition to Garcia, Kounde, Christensen, Espart, and Olmo, Roony Bardghji is also unavailable, creating further selection challenges for Flick as Barcelona aims to bounce back from their recent 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid.
There was a moment of concern during Friday’s session when Raphinha appeared to sustain discomfort after an accidental collision with Fermin Lopez, who quickly apologized. However, Raphinha reassured everyone with a thumbs-up and continued training vigorously.
As the match nears, Barcelona hopes for no further setbacks, with Flick striving to assemble a competitive lineup despite an increasing injury roster.
