The Spanish club Barcelona has resumed training with intensity after the seven-day Christmas break. The team conducted five intensive training sessions in preparation for their first official match of 2026, which will be a heated derby against their neighbor Espanyol at the Cornella El Prat stadium.

Three major question marks arise regarding the readiness of some of the team's stars, according to the Spanish newspaper "Sport," which puts coach Hans Flick in a difficult position before traveling to compete in the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Dani Olmo... A gradual return and medical caution

Dani Olmo gradually participated in group training sessions after recovering from a shoulder injury he sustained on December 2nd. The player continued individual work during exercises that involved physical and intense contact, with the medical staff keen to avoid any setbacks, especially since he underwent surgery on the same shoulder two years ago while at RB Leipzig. It is expected that Flick will decide to include Olmo in the match squad without starting him as a starter, or rest him to be fully ready for the Spanish Super Cup.

Ronald Araújo... Gradual Return to Routine

Uruguayan defender Ronald Araújo has returned to team training after more than a month of absence due to mental health reasons. The player showed good physical responsiveness as a result of continuing to train individually, which reduced the physical gap between him and his teammates. No final date has been set for his participation in matches yet, but it is likely that he could be included in the derby squad depending on his condition in the final training session.

Lamine Yamal... A health setback raises suspicions

The young star Lamin Yamal missed the training sessions at the start of the new year to undergo quick medical tests due to a general health issue. Although the injury is not serious, there are doubts about his participation as a starter in the derby. Flick will decide whether to start him from the beginning or keep him as a substitute to avoid fatigue before traveling to Saudi Arabia to compete in the Spanish Super Cup in a few days.