Andreas Christensen boosts Barcelona as injury woes ease

The 28-year-old had been sidelined since late January with a calf injury to his right leg but is now available for selection ahead of their clash with Real Sociedad on Sunday, according to manager Hansi Flick.

The good news doesn't stop there for the Catalan giants. With Christensen's return, Barcelona have finally emptied their treatment room, though goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen and youngster Marc Bernal remain long-term absentees, likely out for the rest of the season.

Christensen's clearance came at midday on Wednesday, marking the end of a frustrating spell that saw him miss seven matches across all competitions. These included the Champions League tie against Atalanta, Copa del Rey clashes with Valencia and Atletico Madrid, and La Liga games against Alaves, Sevilla, Rayo Vallecano, and Las Palmas.

It's been a torrid season for the Denmark international when it comes to injuries. So far, he's managed just 26 minutes of action, all of which came in the opening-day win over Valencia. Back in late August, Christensen suffered a serious Achilles tendon injury that required surgery, ruling him out for over four months.

He made a brief return to the squad on January 18 against Getafe but didn't see the pitch. He was also named in the squad for the Champions League match against Benfica and the La Liga fixture with Valencia, only to remain on the bench both times.

Just days later, the calf issue struck during training, sending him back to the physio's table.

Now, a month on, Christensen has overcome the setback. He's been training with the group since last week and, with the medical all-clear finally in hand, Flick can call on him once more.

"It's a big lift for us," Flick has said of his return, as Barcelona look to build momentum in a season disrupted by injuries.

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