“No som robots que entrem al taller i en sortim a punt per tornar a jugar,” Aitana Bonmatí said of her return from injury, according to diaridegirona.cat reports.
The Barcelona midfielder has returned to the first-team dynamic after months on the sidelines recovering from a transsyndesmotic fracture of the fibula in her left ankle, the most severe injury of her career. She is expected to start against Arsenal at the Camp Nou.
Bonmatí made her competitive return on Sept. 27, 2026, against Logroño United. She has since made seven official appearances for Barcelona across Lliga F and the UEFA Champions League, accumulating 335 minutes and one assist.
“Quan tornes a la dinàmica, et tornes a il·lusionar i és com tornar a començar una altra vegada,” Bonmatí said, as reported by diaridegirona.cat. She noted that while she has experience, the long layoff required immense effort to regain her physical conditioning and competitive rhythm.
Barcelona manager Pere Romeu praised the player’s maturity throughout the rehabilitation process. Romeu noted that Bonmatí communicated effectively with medical staff and coaches when deciding when to push forward and when to halt her progression.
“Estic agafant ritme i recuperant sensacions i confiança,” Bonmatí added. Reflecting on life’s fragility following the tragedy involving Tenerife player Jesús de Miguel the previous week, she noted that the experience taught her to appreciate every moment and enjoy the good things that happen.
Barcelona hosts Arsenal at the Camp Nou with kickoff set for 18.45 local time, broadcast on TV3. El Camp Nou és un escenari molt important per a l’equip,
Bonmatí acknowledged, highlighting her eagerness to enjoy the match against the Gunners as a team captain in her 15th season with the club.
“Aquest equip no necessita recordar el passat ni buscar motivacions,” Bonmatí said, referencing the 1–0 defeat to Arsenal in the 2025 Champions League final in Lisbon, according to diaridegirona.cat.
She emphasized that facing a major opponent on such a stage provides sufficient motivation, adding, Quan t’enfrontes a un gran rival, per a nosaltres és molt important oferir un bon nivell i anar a buscar la victòria
, as the three-time Ballon d’Or winner looked ahead to the fixture.
Barcelona enters the fixture missing several key players through injuries, including Vicky López, Kerolin, and Kika Nazareth, leaving Romeu to manage squad depth against the English side.
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