Good news for Athletic Club and a huge week for Barcelona: Nico Williams is back in team training, and Lamine Yamal heads to Paris with Barca still perfect this season.
Nico Williams: Levante in his sights
Williams returned to outdoor team training on Monday, October 19, after a thigh injury that kept him out of Saturday’s draw at Valencia and limited him to individual work. According to Onda Vasco, as reported by RotoWire, he is pushing to be available for Wednesday’s league trip to Levante. Coach Edin Terzic wants his return managed carefully given his history of muscle problems, so a place on the bench looks more likely than a start.
Yamal and Barcelona: PSG, then Madrid
Yamal scored the opener and set up Gabriel Jesus in Saturday’s 5-2 win at Real Betis, keeping Barcelona perfect: 11 wins from 11 in all competitions, nine of them in La Liga. Next up is Tuesday’s Champions League trip to the Parc des Princes to face two-time defending champions Paris Saint-Germain. Both sides have won their first two European games, with PSG top of the table on goals scored.
Hansi Flick has said he sees no need to rest Yamal, calling him “very important for us.” Barca will be without Jules Koundé and Eric García, both hurt against Betis, along with Andreas Christensen and Roony Bardghji. Koundé could be back for El Clásico against Real Madrid at Camp Nou on Sunday, October 25.
Stat to watch
At 19, Yamal became the first teenager to reach 25 Champions League goal involvements (12 goals, 13 assists in 35 appearances), according to beIN Sports. Barcelona have scored 48 goals in 11 games this season.
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