"We haven't had a season where the wind has blown in our favor," acknowledges Xavi Pascual. While trying to avoid a third consecutive year without a title, Barça faces the final stretch of the Liga Endesa with a handful of unforeseen adversities. The cardiac problems of some key players have been added to serious injuries like Nico Laprovittola's. The arrhythmias of Toko Shengelia, Tomás Satoransky, and Will Clyburn have set off alarms for the medical services of the blaugrana club, who are managing this situation with the utmost caution.

When Will Clyburn was deciding whether to accept an offer to play for Virtus Bologna in the summer of 2024, a call from Toko Shengelia sealed the deal. The American forward has complete faith in the judgment of his Georgian friend, with whom he shared two years at CSKA Moscow. That relationship, forged in the sweltering heat, has stood the test of time, and therefore it's no surprise that the two now share a project at Barça. "Toko, I, and our families have a great relationship. His leadership and mental strength help any team. And I'm not just talking about basketball. As a person, he can bring clarity to any situation we face," he acknowledges. Shengelia doesn't know if he'll be able to play in this Friday's Clásico (8:30 p.m., Movistar), but Clyburn is confident he'll have a key role. Raised in Detroit, a city in decline since the automotive crisis, the forward is used to overcoming countless adversities. Surprising Real Madrid is the most immediate challenge for a player who has accumulated 251 EuroLeague games. "You always have to take advantage of opportunities; that's what makes you progress. I'm ready to start. I'm a warrior, and I'll go out there to win and help the team."