Pau Cubarsí has completed training this Saturday at the Joan Gamper Sports City with the rest of his teammates. The serious injury he sustained on his face in the match against Red Star has not prevented him from taking to the pitch, although, as expected, he has done so protected by a mask.
The Barça centre-back visited the Teknon clinic in Barcelona on Friday to look for a protective mask that would allow him to play at Anoeta despite the 10 stitches on his face that he needed after Uros Spajic's kick. It is clear that if it were up to him, he would play this Sunday against Real Sociedad, however, the final decision will be in the hands of Hansi Flick.
Cubarsí has played in all the League and Champions League matches played to date and, surely, he does not want to miss the duel against Real Sociedad. Barça's '2' was only a substitute against Villarreal, where he came on half an hour before the end. In 16 games, the Barça youth player has accumulated 1,235 minutes.
Will Pau Cubarsí travel to San Sebastian?
The Barça coaching staff do not want to take any risks and, despite having completed training this Saturday normally, they could choose not to include the defender in the squad for matchday 13 of LaLiga. Everything will depend on the state of the inflammation in his cheek, and if it goes down he could have the option of travelling.
That being the case, Hansi Flick and Dr. Ricard Pruna, who applied the stitches in Belgrade, will have the final say in deciding whether Pau is fit to play on Sunday. If he is not given the all-clear, the 17-year-old defender will have 15 days to recover at the Ciutat Esportiva, as Luis de la Fuente did not call him up for next week's FIFA matchday.
The image of Pau Cubarsí wearing a mask joins that of other Barça players who also suffered facial injuries. Previously, footballers such as Ronald Araújo and Gavi depended on this protection on their face to be able to play.