Barcelona wonderkid making steady progress and could be back vs Atletico Madrid

Barcelona’s teenage midfield revelation Marc Bernal is ahead of schedule in his recovery from an ankle sprain and has emerged as a surprise candidate for the Champions League quarter-final second-leg showdown with Atlético Madrid, according to a report in SPORT.

Bernal damaged ligaments in his right ankle during last week’s Liga visit to the Metropolitano, an incident that initially carried a 10-day prognosis and appeared to end his involvement in the season-defining weeks ahead. Yet intensive physiotherapy and individual conditioning work overseen by the club’s medical department have accelerated the healing process, and the 17-year-old is now described as “progressing well” ahead of next week’s European return leg.

While the midfielder has not yet taken part in full-squad sessions, the combination of mobility drills and tailored fitness routines has fuelled growing optimism inside the Ciutat Esportiva. Staff are encouraged by his response to treatment and will continue to monitor swelling and stability before deciding whether to clear him for group training.

Head coach Hansi Flick is contending with a depleted engine room. Pedri is still nursing the knock that kept him out of the derby build-up, and Frenkie de Jong, although back on the pitch, is not expected to manage a complete match. In that context, even having Bernal among the substitutes would provide valuable cover and tactical flexibility against Diego Simeone’s side.

Club sources stress that no risks will be taken; the priority remains the player’s long-term health. Nevertheless, with places in the semi-finals on the line, every available body counts. A final determination on Bernal’s inclusion will be made after the weekend, but the mood around the training ground suggests a late cameo—or at least a spot on the bench—is increasingly plausible.

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