Barcelona confirm injury boost for Luis Enrique for Real Sociedad trip

Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has received an injury boost ahead of the trip to Real Sociedad on Saturday (9 April), after club doctors gave the all-clear to Adriano. The Brazilian full-back missed the Liga defeat to Real Madrid, as well the Champions League quarter-final first-leg win over Atletico Madrid, but will be available to return to action at the Anoeta Stadium.

Adriano, 31, suffered a muscle injury in his hamstring during a training session on 29 March. Barcelona announced then that the versatile defender was expected to be on the sidelines for around 10 days, ruling him out for the two key games against the Madrid-based sides.

The Brazilian has since made a good progress and barely a week after the injury doctors have given him the all-clear to play again.

"Following Wednesday's session, Adriano received the all-clear from the club's medics and is once again at the disposal of Luis Enrique," Barcelona confirmed.

The good news for Luis Enrique comes just one day after Rafinha Alcantara made his long-awaited return to action for Barcelona during the Champions League win over Atletico Madrid, having already played for the Brazilian Under-23 national team during the recent international break.

Rafinhan suffered a tear to the anterior cruciate ligament in his right leg during the Champions League game with Roma in September 2015, being forced to undergo surgery following a bad tackle from Radja Nainggolan. Some suggested that he would miss the rest of the season but, after six months on the sidelines he was handed a return in the second half of the game against Atletico, replacing Ivan Rakitic to help the Catalans to complete a 2-1 turnaround against their 10-man opponents.

Jeremy Mathieu, Aleix Vidal and Sandro Ramirez are now the only players on the Nou Camp treatment table ahead of the game with Real Sociedad. Luis Enrique called up five starlets from the academy – Sergi Samper, Gumbau, Camara Kaptoum and Mujica – for the Wednesday training session.