Gavi and Frenkie de Jong, facing their last great opportunity in 2024

Published:20/12/2024 - 18:45h

Updated:20/12/2024 - 18:48h

Hansi Flick will make significant rotations against Atlético de Madrid. The absence of Lamine Yamal opens the door for a couple of adjustments in the XI, and both Gavi and Frenkie de Jong are waiting for their opportunity

The last match of the year for FC Barcelona invites Hansi Flick to make several adjustments to his starting eleven. The clash against Atlético de Madrid is crucial for a Barça team that has suffered two consecutive home defeats in LaLiga and has only managed to secure 5 of the last 18 points available. Two of the Barça substitutes waiting for their last great opportunity of 2024 are undoubtedly Gavi and Frenkie de Jong.

Both have had fewer opportunities than they need to regain competitive rhythm, with the Andalusian recording the least minutes so far (241' in 12 matches, 2 of them as a starter). With Lamine Yamal injured, the player from Los Palacios and Villafranca could join Pedri González and Marc Casadó in midfield, freeing up the player from Tegueste to participate more in attack alongside Raphinha and Dani Olmo.

Similarly, Flick could give '20' a rest, as the player from Terrassa has been quite erratic in finishing in recent matches. This would open a spot for De Jong, who did not play against Leganés and was only a starter against Real Sociedad (he was substituted at halftime). The '21' scored one goal and provided one assist against Mallorca, but has only accumulated 362 minutes of action spread over 13 appearances.

Fermín López advances over Frenkie and Gavi for a spot in the XI

However, the Barça coach may also lean towards Fermín López if he decides to leave Olmo on the bench. The player from El Campillo has not scored or assisted yet in La Liga, but he has Flick's full confidence to bring greater intensity to the Barça midfield, a key aspect against a rival like Atlético. The other alternative for Frenkie to gain quality minutes is to rest Marc Casadó, something unlikely considering the good form of the Catalan.

In any case, both the player from Arkel and Gavi are ready to add quality minutes in a match that promises to be a true final. Both will have many more opportunities to enter the XI in the match against Barbastro, the first of 2025 against a rival that complicated things for Barça in the previous edition of the Copa del Rey (Barça won 3-4 in Huesca).