Hansi Flick's Options to Cover for Dani Olmo's Absence

FC Barcelona will have to face at least three matches without Dani Olmo in the next two weeks. The player from Terrassa suffered a thigh injury on Thursday against Osasuna (3-0) and will be out for 15 to 21 days. Hopefully, he could be available for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals against Borussia Dortmund at home on Wednesday, April 9.

However, the '20' will definitely miss the match on Sunday against Girona in Montjuïc, for matchday 29 of La Liga, as well as the return leg of the 'semis' of the Copa del Rey next Wednesday, April 2 against Atlético de Madrid at the Metropolitano. The third match Olmo will miss will again be in Montjuïc against Real Betis, on matchday 30 of the Spanish Primera División.

Dani had scored a goal against Girona in the first round (a 1-4 victory for the culés in Montilivi) and was a starter in the draw against Betis at the Benito Villamarín (2-2). He had also been in the starting XI in the first Copa semifinal against Atlético and had managed to string together three consecutive league matches as a starter for the first time this year. Now, Hansi Flick will have to move his pieces again to cover the absence of the attacking midfielder in a crucial stretch of the season.

Gavi and Fermín, Main Options to Cover Olmo's Absence

Looking ahead to Sunday, it is likely that Gavi will be the chosen one by the coach to cover Dani's absence. The Andalusian had a very good game on Thursday against Osasuna and needs to regain competitive rhythm, as some physical setbacks prevented him from maintaining the regularity he had shown between January and February during the month that ends next Monday. 

The other reliable option for Flick is Fermín López. The player from Huelva came on for Dani in the 28th minute and provided an assist in the second half to Robert Lewandowski to seal the rout against the Navarrese. After his expulsion against Sevilla (1-4), the '16' has struggled to regain his place in the lineup, as both Frenkie de Jong and Pedri González are untouchable in the blaugrana scheme.

A third alternative could be Pablo Torre. The Cantabrian played the entire second half against Osasuna, leaving a good impression despite spending the last two months on the bench. This year, the '14' had only played 12 minutes against Valencia, in La Liga, on matchday 21. He also had some residual minutes in the Copa against Betis, while in the match against Barbastro he played 81 minutes.