Dream week for Barça

Reaching their ninth European Cup final in their history and setting their sights on securing what would be their 28th La Liga title. That's what's at stake in this dream week for Barça . Tomorrow in Milan and on Sunday against Madrid at Montjuïc, the Barcelona team has its hopes of securing a treble and continuing this fairytale campaign in their hands.

It won't be easy at either the Meazza or the Olímpic. In Milan, they await Barcelona with a mixture of utmost respect and admiration, but also with the conviction that they can eliminate the Blaugrana. The Inter ultras, who have been at loggerheads with the club for some time now and are not cheering until the 20th minute in protest, have announced that this time they're putting aside their differences with the club and will be vocal from the kickoff. The old Milanese stadium will roar in an attempt to unsettle Barça. The Blaugrana will travel this Monday with full enthusiasm and with fresh players, as far as is possible at this stage of the season, following the rests imposed by Flick in Zorrilla. What is certain is that it will be a team with the winning mentality that comes from having already secured the Super Cup and the Copa del Rey, and with the reminder that this group never gives up. They've won at the Bernabéu, the Metropolitano, twice in Lisbon, and in Dortmund, all demanding stadiums for visitors. Barcelona isn't intimidated when they're behind, having already won eight matches this season. Until the very end, their fans know they can rely on Flick's team, who are giving them a great time and, above all, are transmitting passion and excitement match after match.

Lewandowski is training with the group and will be available in Milan while Balde is struggling.

For the final before the final, as the Blaugrana coach described the Milan match, Barcelona will have Robert Lewandowski back, even if it's just to be on the bench and lend a hand if necessary. The Pole was the first to enter the Ciutat Esportiva pitch this Sunday, accompanied by the German coach. The forward hasn't played since injuring his right thigh against Celta on April 19. Since then, he has missed four matches, resulting in three wins for Barça and one draw (the first leg against Inter). Flick had already stated in recent days that Lewandowski was progressing better than expected, although he'd normally start on the bench. The fact that Ferran Torres didn't play a single minute at the Nuevo Zorrilla supports the theory that the Valencian will be the starting striker at the Meazza.

The outlook is looking bleaker for Alejandro Balde, who is recovering from the distal hamstring injury in his left leg suffered against Leganés on April 12. The full-back has not yet joined the team training camp this Sunday. In his case, and especially considering he's an explosive player, the risk of a relapse is greater, and the coaching staff wants to proceed cautiously. Whatever happens in Milan, the season is far from over for Barcelona. In this sense, it's more plausible that Balde will try to make Sunday's Clásico than push himself too hard to make the Milan match.

Barça heads into the Clásico against Madrid with a four-point lead, and anything short of losing is in their favor.

Everything points to Flick having to choose between one of the following options at left-back: either continue with Gerard Martín or place Iñigo Martínez there. In the Copa del Rey final against Inter at Montjuïc, he started with the former and ended with the latter. Continuing with Gerard would allow Flick to maintain his classic center-back pairing (Cubarsí-Iñigo Martínez), and opting for the Basque would bring Ronald Araújo into the starting lineup at center-back. The Uruguayan, in a hard-hitting, close-quarters match, is always a player to be reckoned with. It's also worth remembering that Dumfries caused Gerard Martín a lot of problems, and that Iñigo contained him much better in the second half.

After this major match, the fourth Clásico of the season will arrive. Barcelona has won three of the previous three. The Blaugrana maintain a four-point lead over Madrid. Another win against the Whites would put them seven points ahead plus goal average , with nine points left to play for. In other words, it would almost be putting the tie on the championship. Anything short of losing next Sunday will be beneficial for Barça, as they would maintain their same cushion. On the other hand, a Whites win would raise the temperature of the La Liga standings , with Barça facing Espanyol (Cornellà), Villarreal , and Athletic (San Mamés) as their next opponents. What a week.