Barcelona have officially kicked off preparations for their first game back at Spotify Camp Nou this Saturday against Athletic Club, with kick-off scheduled for 4:15pm CET.
Softfootball reports that Hansi Flick’s squad returned to action at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper following a four-day break, with all eyes on securing a winning return home in La Liga.
The first session saw players who weren’t on international duty step onto the pitch. Szczęsny, Joan Garcia, Eric, Gerard Martín, Casadó, Baldé, Dro, Tommy Marqués, Guillem Victor, Jofre, and Toni Fernández were all involved, alongside Raphinha, who returned to group training for the first time since September.
One notable absentee was Marc Bernal, who was attending Tuesday’s friendly between Catalonia and Palestine as revealed by Barcelona in a post made via their official X account.
They posted:
Catalonia defeats Palestine 2–1, with Marc Bernal featuring in the opening 45 minutes. 👏
📸 FCF pic.twitter.com/WmFoTViDPB
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 18, 2025Barcelona fans were given a significant boost on the personnel front with Raphinha back in action. The Brazilian wide man had been sidelined since September due to a hamstring injury that, while initially considered minor, led to several setbacks and a lengthy rehabilitation period.The 28-year-old spent months on the treatment table, making his return to full training an eagerly awaited development for both the coaching staff and supporters.
Under Hansi Flick’s watchful eye, Raphinha joined the rest of the squad at the Ciutat Esportiva this Tuesday, moving through drills and light exercises with the group. His presence on the training pitch is a positive indicator that he may soon receive medical clearance to feature, at least partially, in Barcelona’s post-international break fixture against Athletic Club this weekend.
Barcelona excitedly uploaded videos of the attacker’s training session via their official X account in what has left fans ecstatic.
Watch the video below:
Let's go, Rapha! 👊 pic.twitter.com/ylBPQpaJwb
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 18, 2025For Barca, having Raphinha back is more than just numbers in the squad—it’s a psychological lift as the team looks to restart the La Liga campaign with momentum and when you add that to the imminent return of Joan Garcia, back in action, Barcelona fans have every reason to be over the moon. Fans and staff alike will be hoping that the former Leeds United winger can gradually regain his sharpness and contribute to the attacking options as the season continues.
Watch the full team training video uploaded via their official X account:
A look at today’s training 👇 pic.twitter.com/J9HK70bhZh
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 18, 2025With the squad regrouped and key players returning, Barcelona head into the weekend with renewed optimism and the expectation of a strong performance in front of their home supporters.
