FC Barcelona is striving to regain its key players before entering the decisive phase of the season in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, as three players continue their recovery in preparation for their return. These players are Alejandro Balde, aged 22, Kounde, aged 27, and Frenkie de Jong, aged 28. The plan of German coach Hans Flick and the medical team indicates the possibility of the left-back Balde returning first after the international break.

Balde suffered a left hamstring injury on March 3, 2026, during the match against Atletico Madrid in the King's Cup, which ended with the team's futile attempt to compensate. The initial estimate was that his absence would last about four weeks, meaning his participation in the upcoming match against Atletico on April 4 would align with the club's medical plan.

Kounde was injured in the same match with a tear in the central part of the left hamstring, and the duration of his absence has not been precisely determined. However, according to the newspaper 'Mundo Deportivo', he may need slightly longer than Balde, possibly an additional week, meaning his return against Atletico could be in the league or the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, depending on his recovery speed.

As for De Jong, he sustained an injury to the right hamstring during training on February 26, 2026, with an estimated absence period of 5 to 6 weeks. He was scheduled to return in the league match against Atletico on April 4, but due to his precision in recovery, his appearance might be postponed an additional week for the derby match against Espanyol.

It is worth noting that Marc Bernal's brilliance in the defensive midfield position may serve as an additional motivation for De Jong's quick return to ensure his main position in Barcelona's lineup during the final decisive competition for the local and European title.