Key Barcelona defender ready to return for El Clasico, could replace Pique in the lineup

After failing to defeat Inter Milan, which has left them on the brink of an exit from the UEFA Champions League, Barcelona will look to get back to winning ways and retain their top spot in La Liga on Sunday, when they face Real Madrid in El Clasico.

And, in the leadup to the game, Barcelona have received a major injury boost as key defender Jules Kounde is ready to return to the starting XI at the Santiago Bernabeu.

This claim comes from Javi Miguel of AS, who states that the player is in line for a return from his hamstring injury while manager Xavi Hernandez is also intent to have him back into the starting lineup, especially after how things went down against Inter.

Kounde was sidelined with a hamstring injury towards the end of the last month, following which he was expected to miss three to four weeks of action.

However, Xavi hinted that the 23-year-old was in line for a return on Sunday and it is now being claimed that the manager is all set to recall the Frenchman into his lineup against Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

SPORT claims that Kounde has rejoined group training today, indicating that he is all set for a comeback on Sunday.

While it was initially reported that Barcelona would be erring on the side of caution with the defender’s recovery, they will now recall him at the earliest possible after the events of Wednesday night.

Gerard Pique was all over the place against Inter Milan at Spotify Camp Nou, having started three matches in a row, which might have seemingly taken a toll on him physically.

Hence, unless there is any last-minute change in his situation, it seems like Kounde will start on Sunday against Real Madrid, most probably at the expense of Pique.

There is also the possibility of him slotting in at right-back, although the report indicates that Alejandro Balde could occupy that position, with Kounde and Eric Garcia forming the centre-back pairing while Marcos Alonso retains his spot on the left.

Irrespective of that, Kounde’s return will come as a massive boost for Barcelona ahead of the top-of-the-table clash against Real Madrid.

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