Barcelona manager Hansi Flick confirmed that Robert Lewandowski and Alejandro Balde will be in the squad for Sunday’s league deciding El Clásico against Real Madrid, but both are expected to begin the match on the bench.
Balde — along with midfielder Marc Casadó — was passed fit by the medical staff on Saturday and will be named in the 23-man squad for the game after recovering from a hamstring injury, and Lewandowski already has 30 minutes under his belt following his return against Inter Milan.
Flick was asked if he plans on starting the two players against Los Blancos, and his response made it clear he won’t risk them from the beginning and will count on them as second half substitutes, with Gerard Martín likely to start at left-back once again.