He is definitely back. Catalan midfielder Marc Bernal has returned to the FC Barcelona first team after putting the injury that saw him out for over a year behind him. The blaugrana midfield man is also flourishing given his performance against Atlético Madrid, including scoring two goals to keep the comeback dream alive.

Goalscoring instincts

Bernal made his 25th appearance of the season and fourth in the Copa del Rey, a competition in which he has featured heavily, starting all four games and accumulating 259 minutes on the pitch.

Even though those were his first two goals in the knockout competition, the blaugrana number 22 had already shown his nose for goal for Hansi Flick's side. his brace against Atlético means he has now scored four goals in the last six games.

The La Masia graduate is using his goalscoring instincts to help the team, after showing the same signs in the Barça youth system, having scored two goals for Barça Atlètic during the 23/24 season, when the development side fell just short of promotion into the professional leagues on losing the playoff final to Córdoba CF.

Leadership in midfield against Atlético

Marc Bernal was one of the leaders in the engine room for FC Barcelona during the match against Atlético. The midfielder had the most attempts on goal with five. Four were on target, with of course, two finding the net.

What's more, the Catalan had 62 touches in the 90 minutes he was on the pitch at the Spotify Camp Nou.

Força Barça