The midfielder Fermin Lopez was one of the most affected players as FC Barcelona were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League at the quarter final stage by Atletico Madrid.
The Spaniard not only suffered emotionally from the exit, but also had to endure a very difficult night physically in the second leg, as he was involved in a painful collision with Juan Musso during an aerial challenge.
The impact left him with a serious mouth injury and heavy bleeding, forcing the medical staff to stitch his upper lip in the dressing room, in a situation that reportedly caused him significant pain.
Despite the severity of the incident, Fermin showed strong character to continue playing until he was eventually taken off in the second half by Hansi Flick. It is also worth noting that he had already entered that match carrying a forehead cut sustained in the build up to the first leg.
Owing to these issues, the 22-year-old midfielder missed a training session as the team began preparations for the upcoming league fixture against Celta Vigo. However, according to Mundo Deportivo, Fermin returned to training with the squad on Sunday, albeit wearing a protective face mask to safeguard the affected area.
While his recovery is progressing well, he is still dealing with the aftermath of the blow. The mask is specifically designed to protect the affected area during contact.
His return is an encouraging boost for Barcelona ahead of Wednesday’s clash. Even so, it remains uncertain whether Fermin will be fully ready to feature in the game against Celta Vigo.
