Marc Bernal working hard on recovery

Marc Bernal's recovery is a long, gruelling process, but the young midfielder is doing all he can to get over the nasty cruciate ligament injury and associated damage to the external meniscus in his left knee that he sustained in the third week of Liga action. He underwent surgery on September 9 and is now on the long road to recovery from a problem that means he has played no further part in the 2024/25 season.

It's all the more agonising because the Catalan starlet had made an extraordinary impact after featuring in the preseason under Hansi Flick. Bernal impressed so much that he immediately became a prominent feature of the German manager's first team plans. He started the first league game of the season against Valencia, and then again against Athletic Club, and his performances wowed the football world. But in third game away to Rayo Vallecano, injury struck and the player's astonishing progress was tragically cut short.

Four months have passed since then, and the 17-year-old is battling hard at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper under the watchful eye of the club medical services. Sadly, he's still not even half way through what is expected to be a 12-month recovery process, meaning it is extremely unlikely that he will play any more competitive football this current season.