After a frustrating spell of six months out on the sidelines, FC Barcelona midfielder Gavi finally made his long-awaited comeback to action in March.
The 21-year-old fan favourite had to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his knee back in September, which put him out of action for large parts of the season.
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It was against Sevilla, on 14 March, that he made his comeback, featuring for eight minutes. After that, he also played 12 minutes last weekend vs Atletico Madrid.
Gavi set for Champions League return
Now, according to Mundo Deportivo, the Barcelona dressing room firmlyG believes that Gavi will play an important role in this edition of the Champions League, particularly in the quarter-final tie against Atletico Madrid.
Whether he starts, which cannot be ruled out, or contributes from the bench, his energy and intensity are considered key to the team.
The Spanish midfielder has not started a game in the Champions League for almost a year. Indeed, one has to go back to 15 April 2025 to find Gavi starting in the Champions League. That came in the second leg of the quarter-finals against Borussia Dortmund.
Gavi has not played a single minute in the Champions League this season. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
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He later featured in both semi-final matches in May against Inter Milan (3-3 and 4-3), playing 7 and 14 minutes respectively.
In the 2025/26 season, the La Masia graduate has not featured in any of Barcelona’s 10 Champions League matches so far.
Gavi missed the first eight games due to injury. Against Newcastle United in the Round of 16, he remained on the bench in both legs despite being available.
With Frenkie de Jong and Marc Bernal both unavailable for tomorrow’s clash against Atletico Madrid in the quarter-final first leg, there is a good chance that Gavi gets prominent minutes at the Spotify Camp Nou.
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And, within the locker room, there is a strong belief that the midfielder, whom Joao Cancelo described as the ‘heart and soul of the team’, will have a key role to play in the continental competition.
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