Rival watch: Key Osasuna forward most likely to miss Barcelona tie
According to a report from SPORT, Osasuna winger Bryan Zaragoza has yet to return to training with his teammates, making it highly unlikely that he will be available for the crucial fixture against Barcelona.
Barcelona and Osasuna are set to face off on Thursday in a match that was originally postponed following the sudden passing of Dr. Carles Minarro.
Both teams will head into the encounter with some key absences, whether due to injuries or the fatigue accumulated by players returning from international duty. However, for Osasuna, Zaragoza's unavailability stands out as a major setback.
The 23-year-old, currently on loan from Bayern Munich, has not participated in recent training sessions, and Osasuna are unlikely to have him at his disposal for this important match.
Zaragoza had been called up by Luis de la Fuente for Spain's international fixtures against the Netherlands, but he had to leave the national team camp early due to a right thigh injury.
Since then, he has not fully recovered, leaving his participation against Barcelona in serious doubt.
His absence will come as a relief for the Barça defenders, as the winger has proven to be a real menace whenever he has faced them.
In just two appearances against Barcelona, he has recorded three goals and an assist, making him one of the most effective players against the Catalan side in recent times.
Earlier this season, Zaragoza played a crucial role in Osasuna's 4-2 victory over Barcelona on 28 September. That day, Osasuna took full advantage of Barcelona's rotation.
By the 28th minute, they had already raced to a 2-0 lead, with Zaragoza assisting Ante Budimir for the opening goal before scoring the second on the counterattack.
With Osasuna now set to face Barcelona without their star winger, the Catalans will have one less attacking threat to worry about. This could make things easier for Flick's side as they aim to secure a crucial victory in the league.
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