Barcelona find unlikely heroes where no one was looking | OneFootball

In a team like Barcelona, there is hardly anything that goes unnoticed, but one aspect that has, however, gone under the radar is the defensive pairing of Pau Cubarsi and Gerard Martin.

Without much noise or headlines, Cubarsi and Martin have established themselves as a reliable and increasingly indispensable centre-back pairing under Hansi Flick.

What makes their partnership particularly valuable is not just their defensive solidity, but how naturally they complement each other. 

Flick has leaned on their ability to build from the back, with Cubarsi operating comfortably on the right side thanks to his right foot, while Gerard offers balance on the left. 

This symmetry has allowed Barcelona to maintain fluidity in possession without compromising structure.

Performance to show

As such, both defenders stood out at St. James’ Park and followed it up with another strong display against Sevilla. 

They also delivered in the return leg against Newcastle at the Spotify Camp Nou, where the fans are beginning to fully recognise their influence on the team’s style of play.

Individually, Cubarsi has been a near-ever-present figure, starting 36 of Barcelona’s 39 matches this season and maintaining impressive discipline with just three yellow cards. 

Gerard Martin and Pau Cubarsi have been excellent for Barcelona. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Since being rested against Levante in February, he has responded by completing six consecutive full matches.

Martin’s contribution has been equally important, as despite a suspension against Villarreal, he has since played five full matches, all as a left-sided centre-back. 

With 82 appearances for the first team, his role has expanded significantly compared to last season, showing Flick’s growing trust in him.

Furthermore, Cubarsi leads the league in successful passes with 1,931, ahead of notable names such as Marcos Alonso and Daley Blind. 

Martin, who has started 26 of 40 matches this season, despite fewer minutes, ranks among the top performers in this area and continues to impress with his reading of the game.

Physically, Martin boasts the highest aerial duel success rate in the league at 71.43%, while Cubarsi also ranks strongly in this category. 

The best example of this is the fact that together, Cubarsi and Martin have conceded just one headed goal, which is a tied record across Europe’s top five leagues.