Wednesday, Apr 30 2025 | Time 07:42 Hrs(IST)
SportsPosted at: Apr 28 2025 5:39PM


Copa del Rey final exertions may hinder Barcelona's Champions League ambitions

Madrid, Apr 28 (UNI) FC Barcelona has little time to enjoy Saturday's Copa del Rey final win against Real Madrid as the club prepares for Champions League semifinal first leg at home to Inter Milan on Wednesday night.
Barca coach Hansi Flick will still be without striker Robert Lewandowski for the game as the club's top scorer recovers from a hamstring injury he suffered just over a week ago.
Left-back Alejandro Balde also looks set to miss at least the first leg with a hamstring issue he picked up against Leganes.
However, Flick must also be worried about the efforts his players made on Saturday night in a match that lasted into the early hours of Sunday morning. A 10 p.m. kick-off time is not ideal for either supporters or players, because extra-time meant it wasn't until close to 1 a.m. on Sunday that referee Ricardo Burgos Bengoetxea blew the final whistle.
After the winner's ceremony and celebrations, it was well past two o'clock when the weary players made their way back to the team hotel before flying back to Barcelona on Sunday. But Flick may well be most concerned about the effort his players put in during the final, because although he used his full quota of substitutes, seven outfield players - Jules Kounde, Inigo Martinez, Pau Cubarsi, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Ferran Torres - all played over 100 minutes, with Martinez, Cubarsi, Raphinha, Kounde and Yamal playing all 120 minutes.
Those five plus Pedri are the backbone of Flick's side, while Lewandowski's injury means there is little chance of rotating Torres. Saturday showed a possible change in defense, with Ronald Araujo available to freshen things up at the back, with Martinez a possible alternative to Gerard Martin at
left-back, but while extra-time may have brought joy to Barcelona in Seville, it is also likely to present some problems on Wednesday.
UNI/XINHUA BM
Tags: #Copa del Rey final exertions may hinder Barcelona's Champions League ambitions
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