Copa del Rey: Arthur back in Barcelona squad for El Clasico

Barcelona travels to Real Madrid on Wednesday having been boosted by the returns of Arthur and Jasper Cillessen.

Published : Feb 27, 2019 11:57 IST

Barcelona's Arthur had suffered a strain earlier this month.

Arthur is back in Barcelona's squad for Wednesday's Copa del Rey semifinal second leg away to Real Madrid following a hamstring injury.

Barca announced on February 8 that Arthur had suffered a strain — a problem which it was thought would keep him out of action for a month, thus forcing him to miss the Clasico double-header, with the great rivals also tussling in La Liga on Saturday.

But head coach Ernesto Valverde hinted in his pre-match news conference earlier on Tuesday that the Brazil international could feature in the Copa, and he has subsequently included Arthur in the travelling squad.

Jasper Cillessen is also among the party following his lay-off with a calf strain, which he too suffered at the start of the month. Of the 'B' team players to have been involved in recent training sessions, Inaki Pena is the only one to be named in the selection.

Barca travels to the Santiago Bernabeu having been held to a 1-1 at home in the first leg.