According to a report by Barca Universal on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, Barcelona defender Jules Kounde remains absent from full team training as the Catalans prepare for Saturday’s La Liga clash against Deportivo Alaves, leaving doubts over his availability.

The French international is continuing his recovery from an ankle sprain, while young defender Pau Cubarsi has returned to normal training ahead of the fixture at Camp Nou.

Barcelona resumed preparations after taking two days off following their disappointing defeat to Real Madrid. Head coach Hansi Flick is hoping to have his defensive options available as the team looks to recover from consecutive losses against Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.

Kounde remains a concern for the Barcelona coaching staff after missing the trip to face PSG and the subsequent El Clasico because of his ankle injury. The defender has yet to rejoin his teammates for full training.

His progress over the next few days will determine whether he can feature against Alaves. Barcelona would welcome his return, but his participation in Saturday’s match remains uncertain.

Meanwhile, Cubarsi’s return to training has provided some encouragement for Flick. The young centre-back missed Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony in London after developing a fever, choosing to focus on his recovery before returning to normal activities with the squad.

Flick also included three promising players from Barcelona’s reserve team in first-team training. Midfielder Ebrima Tunkara, centre-back Alex Campos and Egyptian forward Hamza Abdelkarim joined the senior players during the session.

Barcelona will see Saturday’s encounter with Alaves as an opportunity to respond to their recent disappointing results. The Catalans need to rebuild their confidence and produce a stronger performance in front of their home supporters.

However, Flick’s side face further challenges in the coming weeks, with Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid scheduled to meet Barcelona before the season’s second international break. These fixtures could prove important as the team seeks to regain momentum.

Kounde’s recovery remains a key issue ahead of the demanding schedule. Nevertheless, Cubarsi’s return to full training provides a timely boost as Flick continues preparing his squad for the challenges ahead.