The dilemma that Hansi Flick will have at left back due to the loss of Alejandro Balde against Brest

The FC Barcelona will face Stade Brestois in the UEFA Champions League with the notable absence of Lamine Yamal, who has not yet recovered from his grade 1 syndesmosis ankle injury, a setback that has affected him for several matches. However, he is not the only key player that the Blaugrana team will miss in this match.

Hansi Flick confirmed in a press conference that another player who will not be available for the match against Stade Brestois is the team's regular left-back, Alejandro Balde: "There was the situation with the card with Gerard Martín. Balde had some muscle issues, so we thought he should rest. He is feeling better today, but I hope he will be an option for the matches after Brest. He won't be available tomorrow."

It is important to note that Alejandro Balde has been dealing with some physical issues, which prevented him from playing against Celta de Vigo (Matchday 14 of LaLiga EA Sports) despite being called up. Now, although he did participate in the training session before the match against the 'Pirates,' Hansi Flick has chosen not to risk him, sparking a debate: who will the German coach choose to replace him?

Gerard Martín, the natural choice to fill in for Alejandro Balde against Brest

Initially, there should be no doubts about who should replace him, with Gerard Martín being the natural candidate based on his profile. However, the recent performances of the Esplugues de Llobregat native have not been the most outstanding, showing a modest performance in a well-oiled system of play, with little offensive contribution, some roughness in defense, and difficulties in staying aligned with the backline and effectively executing the offside trap.

Just look at Gerard Martín's latest performance against Celta de Vigo, where in a one-on-one situation with Iago Aspas, he received a yellow card and was on the brink of being sent off in just 45 minutes. In that match, he had to be replaced by Héctor Fort, who is now the center of discussion for Hansi Flick regarding who to field in that left-back position.

Héctor Fort, the other option that Hansi Flick may consider

Héctor Fort, a natural right-back, delivered a solid performance during the 45 minutes he played against Celta de Vigo. He was seen being deep and incisive in attack on several occasions on his flank, in addition to providing constant support in passing. Although it is not his natural position, he did not look out of place in defense, showing confidence in one-on-one duels and demonstrating an intensity comparable to what Alejandro Balde offers in that area.

Now, Hansi Flick will have to decide which player to choose. Not only must he consider the offensive capability of the full-back, but also the ability to face one of the top players from the opposing team, Romain de Castillo, the right winger of Stade Brestois. The Lyon native is left-footed, skillful in dribbling, quick, and possesses a notable goal-scoring ability, promising to pose a significant challenge for Barcelona's defensive line.