De Jong and Pedri back in style

Xavi Hernández had two major reinforcements for the quarter final first leg of the Champions League at the Parc des Princes against PSG. Both Pedri and Frenkie de Jong were declared fully fit just hours before kick-off, and the Dutch midfielder went straight into the starting XI, while the Canary Islander made his entrance as a second half substitute, setting up Raphinha for the Brazilian's second goal of the night just moments after coming on.

Frenkie was exquisite in his 75 minutes of football, eventually replaced by Andreas Christensen for the last quarter of an hour.

Both players were injured in the first half of the game away to Athletic Club on March 3, and have spent the last month battling to get fit again in time for the final stretch of the season. Pedri had a thigh injury while for the Dutchman the problem was with his ankle, but both have managed to put their respective problems behind them. 

Neither player featured in the league against Mallorca, Atlético Madrid and Las Palmas, not in the second leg against Napoli in the UCL, but they were both kitted up this evening, and it was wonderful to see the two of them getting time to remind us of their class on the pitch.