Barcelona: Barcelona have handed coach Hansi Flick a significant double boost ahead of their crucial La Liga clash against Atletico Madrid, with defenders Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen both cleared to return to match fitness.

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The clearance of the defensive pairing comes at a vital juncture for the Catalan side, who continue to navigate an extensive injury list. Former Atletico midfielder Rodri, Dani Olmo, Jules Kounde, and Xavi Espart remain sidelined and unavailable for selection.

To bolster options, Flick has named youngster Ebrima Tunkara in the travelling squad as Barcelona look to preserve their impressive momentum. Midfield mainstays Gavi, Fermin Lopez, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, and Marc Bernal have also all been included in the matchday squad.

Barcelona enter the high-profile fixture following back-to-back dominant performances: a 6-1 thrashing of Alaves in domestic action followed by a convincing 3-0 Champions League triumph over Aston Villa on Tuesday.

However, Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid present a formidable threat, particularly given their current league form. The Madrid outfit are riding a seven-match winning streak in La Liga, highlighted by a 2-1 victory over rivals Real Madrid. Sitting on nine wins, one draw, and just a single defeat from 11 matches, Atletico also hold the best defensive record in Spain's top flight, having conceded only eight goals.

While Atletico suffered a setback in Europe—losing 2-0 at home to Bayern Munich in their latest Champions League outing—Barcelona's attack has been historically prolific. The Catalans have racked up 46 goals in 11 league matches, a tally surpassed only by Athletic Club's historic 49-goal haul at the same stage during the 1930-31 season. (IANS)