More than eight months after a devastating crash that killed all but three of Chapecoense’s players its staff, Alan Ruschel – one of the survivors – will make his comeback in a friendly against Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Aug. 7.
The left-back played 40 minutes in a training match this week and is expected to be named captain for the friendly against Barcelona. Ruschel will likely match up against Lionel Messi, who is deployed on the same flank as the Brazilian.
Goalkeeper Jackson Follmann and defender Neto, who is also expected to return to action, are the other two remaining players from the squad that qualified for the 2016 Copa Sudamericana final. While travelling to Colombia to face Atletico Nacional in the first leg of the final, the plane ran out of fuel and crashed.
Ruschel, 27, had to undergo back surgery following the accident and went through strict rehabilitation as the defender struggled to walk.
Despite everything he has endured, Ruschel is set to resume his career against all odds.
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