Huge boost for Flick as Barcelona midfielder set to return against Levante

Barcelona are on the verge of reintegrating one of their most influential midfielders, with Pedri poised to receive medical clearance on Sunday ahead of a planned cameo against Levante, according to a report in AS by Javier Miguel. The Spain international has accelerated his rehabilitation after sustaining an injury during the 4-2 Champions League win at Slavia Prague, an ailment initially expected to sideline him for roughly a month.

That prognosis forced Pedri to miss a demanding sequence of fixtures against Real Oviedo, Copenhagen, Elche, Albacete, Mallorca, and Atletico Madrid. Yet the 21-year-old has progressed faster than anticipated, returning to ball-work on the training pitch earlier this month and completing the necessary steps to rejoin group sessions.

Provided no late setbacks arise, Sunday’s medical green light would pave the way for a short on-field appearance versus Levante, marking his first competitive minutes since the incident in Prague. The potential return comes at a critical juncture for Hansi Flick, who has already welcomed Raphinha back into the fold and now eyes the final component of what many consider Barcelona’s preferred starting core.

The Blaugrana continue to cope with a depleted squad, as Marcus Rashford, Gavi, and Andreas Christensen remain unavailable, further underlining the significance of Pedri’s comeback. Even a cameo role against Levante would offer a timely lift in depth and creativity as the club navigates a congested calendar.

Fans at the Estadi Olímpic could therefore witness the re-emergence of one of the team’s central figures, whose vision and control have become integral to Barcelona’s rhythm. All indications suggest the midfielder is ready to reintroduce himself to top-flight action, capping a swift recovery that has exceeded initial expectations.