Report reveals why Marc Bernal did not feature for Barcelona against Europa | OneFootball

FC Barcelona supporters were left wondering why Marc Bernal was absent from the club’s first preseason friendly against CE Europa, but there appears to be no cause for concern.

The highly-rated midfielder did not feature in Hansi Flick’s squad as Barcelona cruised to a 4-1 victory behind closed doors, sparking concerns of an injury.

Now, according to Mundo Deportivo, Bernal was left out as a precaution after picking up a minor muscle overload. Both the player and the coaching staff agreed there was no reason to take unnecessary risks in the opening match of preseason.

The decision was purely preventative rather than injury-related.

Unlike Ronald Araujo and Alejandro Balde, whose absences had already been planned as they continue their recovery work, Bernal’s omission came down to managing his workload after the first weeks of preseason training.

The midfielder has since been given the scheduled rest day alongside the rest of the squad and is expected to travel with the team for the preseason camp in England, where Barcelona will continue preparations before facing Birmingham.

There is currently no indication that his availability for the remainder of preseason is in doubt.

Flick knows how valuable Bernal has become

Bernal’s absence attracted attention because of how important he became during the second half of last season.

After spending a year recovering from a serious knee injury, the La Masia graduate steadily earned Flick’s trust and finished the campaign as one of Barcelona’s most reliable midfielders.

With Frenkie de Jong now sidelined through injury, Bernal is expected to have an even bigger role this season.

That is exactly why Barcelona’s cautious approach makes perfect sense.

There is little to gain from risking one of the squad’s most important young players in a low-profile preseason friendly. The objective at this stage is to build fitness, not chase results.

If anything, Flick’s decision highlights how highly Bernal is valued inside the club.