Barcelona is currently in Saudi Arabia, preparing for the Spanish Sᴜper Cup semi-final against Osasuna on Thursday. However, two crucial players, Pedri and João Cancelo, are racing against time to be fit for the match. Although both are with the squad, their clearance for participation is still pending. In a press conference on Wednesday, coach Xavi Hernández provided insight into their potential availability.

Pedri has been sidelined for the past three weeks with a hamstring injᴜry, and Cancelo suffered a strained knee ligament last week. Initial reports suggested Pedri would miss the Supercopa entirely, while Cancelo had a good chance of returning. However, Xavi hinted that the situation has changed, and there is now a better-than-zero percent chance that Pedri might be ready to face Osasuna.

The ᴜnexрected progress in Pedri’s recovery is a positive development, considering his tendency to take longer than expected to return from previous injuries. This news is welcome, suggesting that the player and the club may have found effective strategies to maintain his fitness or minimize his time on the sidelines.

In contrast, Cancelo’s return will not be rushed until he reaches full readiness. Despite the importance of the Supercopa, Xavi emphasized that losing Cancelo for the season would be a more significant Ƅlow than any setback in the competition. Barça has already dodged a potentially more severe knee injᴜry, given the impact severity during the play that injured Cancelo.