In the midst of the euphoria from the championship-flavored victory against Atlético de Madrid on matchday 28 of LaLiga (2-4), FC Barcelona received a harsh and unexpected blow as they head into this decisive stretch of the season. Marc Casadó suffered a tear of the lateral collateral ligament in his knee, which forces the youth player to say goodbye to what remains of the season, as his estimated recovery time would be at least two months.
The midfielder, despite having lost his undisputed status for Hansi Flick in recent weeks due to the good performances of Frenkie de Jong, was still an important piece for the coach. The player continued to alternate between starting and coming off the bench and was the first alternative to the '21' when it came to supporting Pedri in the midfield.
Now, with the absence of '17', the Dutchman is confirmed as the starting pivot for the Barça from now until the end of the season. However, the tight schedule puts the German coach in a difficult situation, as he will need to give the player rest at specific moments in the coming weeks to avoid significant fatigue and any physical setbacks, considering that Frenkie missed a good part of the first half of the season due to an issue with his right ankle.
The two main options for Flick to replace Casadó
In this regard, two names emerge as the main candidates to take over from Casadó in Flick's rotation plan. The first is Eric García, whose good performance in 2025 has earned him the coach's trust and could gain relevance in the coming months. Similarly, Gavi also presents himself as an alternative to act as the chief of the 'engine room'.
📊 Eric García
- Matches: 28
- Goals: 3
- Assists: 1
- Minutes played: 1,155
- Matches as a pivot: 11
The player from Martorell is the main option to act as a substitute for Frenkie de Jong in the pivot role. His standout performance in the 4-5 against Benfica has changed his role in the first team, making him one of Hansi Flick's favorite tools to revolutionize the team from the bench. The German values his versatility and good footwork, and all indications suggest that he will now have more prominence in front of the defense.
This season, the player has already played in the midfield axis in 8 LaLiga matches (Valladolid, Villarreal, Getafe, Osasuna, Alavés, Sevilla, and Atlético de Madrid x2), 2 Champions League matches (Monaco and Borussia Dortmund), and 1 Copa del Rey match (Barbastro), scoring 2 goals and providing 1 assist in this position.
📊 Gavi
- Matches: 26
- Goals: 2
- Assists: 3
- Minutes played: 917
- Matches as a pivot: 0
The player from Los Palacios usually does not play as the sole pivot, but rather as a secondary option in the team's containment. The player offers different characteristics compared to Eric García, being more dynamically intense in duels and pressing. His profile would be of great help in high-paced or transition-heavy matches, as he would bring more impetus and coverage to the midfield.
In recent weeks, the Andalusian has seen his prominence limited as Dani Olmo has taken over the third vacancy in the midfield. However, Casadó's injury and the tight schedule open a window for him to earn a spot in Flick's scheme and enjoy more minutes.
Other alternatives for Barça to replace Casadó
The Barça, on the other hand, has other alternatives, albeit more remote, to mitigate the loss of Casadó. Andreas Christensen could be a solution for Hansi Flick in this position, where he managed to perform well during several matches under Xavi Hernández. The Danish player is almost ready to return after suffering several injuries, but he hasn't played since August, and his lack of match fitness makes his prominence in this final stretch of the season complicated.
Similarly, Pedri's physical leap this season would allow him to perform in this position, although pushing him back on the field could be detrimental to the Catalans' attack. The same goes for Fermín López, who has proven to be a versatile player and could act as a pivot if the team requires it. In any case, Casadó's injury represents a significant blow to the coach's plans, who finds himself at a crossroads in this decisive stage of the season.