How Hansi Flick’s surprising Guadalajara call opens new doors for fringe Barcelona star | OneFootball

Barcelona’s starting XI against CD Guadalajara immediately sparked debate, with more than one unexpected decision catching the eye. 

The first surprise was the presence of Marc-Andre ter Stegen, a choice no one saw coming. 

But once the match settled, another decision proved just as surprising, which was – Marc Casado lining up at right-back.

Casado’s inclusion in an unfamiliar role was a calculated experiment by Hansi Flick. And by the final whistle, the numbers backed up the decision. 

Against Guadalajara, Casado recorded five recoveries, won four duels and completed 69 of his 71 passes. 

Beyond the raw data, he spent significant time in the opposition half, showing confidence on the ball and a clear attacking intent from a defensive position.

Traditionally, Casado has been a midfielder. Fans are used to seeing him operate centrally. 

Against Guadalajara, however, he dropped into the right side of the defence, adapting his positioning while still offering control and intelligence in possession. 

Not a new position for Casado

According to SPORT, this position was not entirely new for Casado, as during the latter stages of the 2023/24 season, he had already been used at right-back with Barça Atletic. 

Casado could unlock a familiar position under Flick. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

That experience now appears crucial. This is because Casado’s influence has dipped during the current campaign. 

With less than 800 minutes played so far, competition in midfield has made regular opportunities hard to come by. 

That is precisely why this appearance in Guadalajara mattered so much. It was not just a start, but a chance to redefine his role within the squad.

Light at the end of the tunnel

It is clear that Jules Kounde remains Barcelona’s undisputed first-choice right-back. 

However, Eric Garcia, the usual alternative, has been increasingly needed in central defence and midfield. 

This has left Flick short of options on the right flank and Casado’s versatility suddenly offers a solution.

Raised in Barcelona’s youth system, he understands positional play and game management at a deep level. 

If developed correctly, Casado could follow the path once taken by players like Sergi Roberto, Joshua Kimmich and Philipp Lahm, footballers who redefined themselves through flexibility.