Hansi Flick may use €60m Barcelona defender as winger amid attacking injury crisis | OneFootball

It is no secret that FC Barcelona are currently going through a major injury crisis. Several of the team’s key players remain sidelined, but the Catalan giants must continue to compete on all fronts, starting with their La Liga clash against Girona.

This Catalan derby was already expected to be a demanding encounter given the quality and intensity of both teams. However, Hansi Flick’s side faces an even steeper challenge as injuries continue to limit his choices in attack.

Ferran Torres has also joined the list of absentees after feeling discomfort once again. The Valencian did not train ahead of the Girona game and has been ruled out, becoming Barça’s seventh unavailable player. He joins Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Raphinha, Lewandowski, and Joan Garcia on the sidelines.

The good news for Flick is that Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez are back and available, although it remains to be seen how many minutes they will be given.

With El Clásico approaching, the German coach will be reluctant to take unnecessary risks, but after two consecutive defeats, securing a win against Girona has become essential.

Given the shortage of attacking options, Flick is expected to make several adjustments. Marcus Rashford is set to start as the centre-forward, a role he knows well despite being more comfortable on the wing.

The Englishman has previously been tested in that position during pre-season and late in the recent match against Mallorca. While those experiments did not yield the best results, Rashford’s experience through the middle makes him the most logical choice.

On the flanks, the situation remains fluid. According to Cadena SER (via SPORT), Flick has experimented with Alejandro Balde in an advanced left-wing position during training.

Photo Courtesy: The official website of FC Barcelona

Whether the Barcelona coach was convinced enough to use the €60 millon-rated pacy full-back there in an official match remains to be seen. If not, Toni Fernandez could be handed his first minutes of the season, while Roony Bardghji is expected to feature on the right side of the attack.

In midfield, Flick faces another selection dilemma. Pedri has been playing with a heavy workload, and while the coach has admitted that even his most important players need rest at times, the Catalan derby is unlikely to be when the midfielder sits out.

The uncertainty lies in his position: if Pedri continues as an interior midfielder, Dro could play as the advanced midfielder. Alternatively, Flick might push Pedri further forward and start Marc Casado as the defensive pivot along with Frenkie de Jong.

Defensively, Flick finally has the full group available, which presents him with some welcome but difficult choices. Kounde and Eric Garcia are competing for the right-back position, while Araujo and Cubarsi are expected to start in central defence. If Balde does indeed move forward, Gerard Martin would likely fill in at left-back.

Several young players from the reserve team were also called up ahead of the derby. Alongside goalkeepers Diego Kochen and Eder Aller, Flick included Jofre Torrents, Dro, Toni Fernandez, and the surprises of the session, Juan Hernandez and Xavi Espart. Dro appears the most likely among them to feature, but Toni’s La Liga debut cannot be ruled out either.

Ultimately, this game will serve as a true test of Hansi Flick’s tactical flexibility and ability to adapt under pressure. With multiple key Barcelona players unavailable and crucial fixtures ahead, the German coach must find the right balance between experimentation and stability to keep Barcelona’s ambitions alive.