Barcelona welcomed back Belgium centre-back Thomas Vermaelen and Netherlands goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen to training on Monday in a boost to head coach Ernesto Valverde’s squad.
Vermaelen, 33, has been out for nearly two months with a hamstring complaint. His return to the fold is timely after France international Samuel Umtiti succumbed to a persistent knee complaint.
Back-up shot stopper Cillessen, 29, suffered a muscle tear in the warm-up for last week’s 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid.
Mundo Deportivo state that both could now feature in Wednesday’s Copa del Rey round-of-32 second leg against Cultural Leonesa. Barca won the opening tie 1-0, courtesy of defender Clement Lenglet’s last-gasp goal.
