Aitana Bonmatí said players are not robots as she eyes a return to top form after breaking her leg a year ago.
Bonmatí, 28, returned to action for Barcelona in April but missed the start of the new season after acknowledging she was still not 100% pain free.
The midfielder made her first appearance of the campaign at the end of September and has subsequently featured six more times.
She registered her first assist of the year in a win over Badalona this month and is expected to start Thursday's UEFA Women's Champions League game against Arsenal at Spotify Camp Nou.
"I'm getting back into my rhythm and finding myself on the pitch again," she said in a news conference on Tuesday.
"Being out for such a long time is difficult. People need to understand that coming back from a serious injury isn't easy.
"We're not robots. We can't just return as if nothing had happened. But I've put the injury behind me and I'm happy with my progress."
Arsenal have made a slow start to the season, picking up just 13 points from nine games in the Women's Super League.
However, they have fared better in Europe, winning two and drawing one of their three games to date.
"There's no need to say too much about Arsenal, whatever form they are in," Bonmatí added.
"We don't underestimate them because we know the quality of the players they have. We're facing one of the biggest matches in world women's football."
The matchup, pushed from Wednesday to Thursday due to a general strike in Spain, is a repeat of the 2025 final.
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Arsenal won on that occasion in Lisbon, stunning favourites Barcelona, but Bonmatí says the players are not thinking of revenge.
"We don't need memories of the past to motivate us," the three-time Ballon d'Or winner said.
Barça coach Pere Romeu says both sides have changed a lot since that final, saying his team are much improved.
The Spanish champions are the only team in the Champions League with a 100% winning record after three games this season and sit top of Liga F.
"Two years is a long time," Romeu said. "It's the same badge, but we are different teams.
"We have grown even more as a team since then. And we're not looking at this game as if it were the Lisbon final. This is a completely different match.
"We are in a sweeter moment of form as well.
"Arsenal have very good players, they play excellent football and they have a very clear identity.
"They have great quality in midfield, as well as pace and the ability to make things happen. We'll need to produce a top-level performance to make sure we get the points."
Romeu said he hopes defender Irene Paredes will be fit to return to action, but Barça will be without record signing Kerolin Nicoli.
The Brazilian will be out for a month after injuring her calf at the weekend.