Major boost for Barcelona as superstar forward set for surprise return vs Athletic Club

Barcelona’s hopes of fielding a near-full-strength side at San Mamés have received a timely lift, with Robert Lewandowski poised to rejoin the main training group today after a rapid recovery from a facial fracture, journalist Carlos Monfort reports for SPORT.

The veteran striker sustained the injury—confirmed as a fracture around the eye socket—during the league meeting with Villarreal and was immediately ruled out of the subsequent fixture. Initial fears of an extended lay-off have eased, however, after Lewandowski progressed through rehabilitation ahead of schedule.

Having already completed light individual work on the training pitch, the Polish forward spent the early part of the week adapting to a custom protective mask. Club medical staff now deem him ready to take the next step: full participation in team sessions while continuing to wear the mask as a safeguard.

Inside the Ciutat Esportiva, optimism is growing that Lewandowski will be declared available for the weekend trip to Bilbao. Coaching staff are monitoring his response to increased intensity, but early indicators have been encouraging. Should the improvement be sustained over the next 48 hours, a cameo appearance off the bench is considered a realistic scenario.

The potential return comes at an opportune moment for manager Hansi Flick, whose squad emerged fatigued from a grueling Copa del Rey clash against Atlético Madrid. With rotation likely in several positions, the availability of a world-class finisher could prove decisive as Barcelona look to maintain momentum in the league.