English
Español
Barcelona have been dealt a serious setback at a crucial stage of the season, with Frenkie de Jong ruled out for the next five to six weeks due to a right calf muscle injury.
The Dutch midfielder’s absence arrives at a time when the club is fighting on multiple fronts, and it forces Hansi Flick to once again rethink his preferred midfield structure.
The timing could hardly be worse. Just as Pedri has returned to full fitness and is ready to take on a leading role again, De Jong has been sidelined.
Flick now finds himself without one of his most important midfield pieces, and with big fixtures ahead, the German coach must quickly settle on a reliable alternative.
Notably, this is not the first time Barcelona have had to cope without De Jong this season. The midfielder had already missed 14 matches for various reasons earlier in the campaign.
During those periods, Flick experimented with several combinations in midfield. Now, he may have to revisit some of those solutions or even introduce something new.
Casado and Pedri – The most used
The most frequent solution Flick has turned to when De Jong was unavailable has been pairing Marc Casado with Pedri.
This combination was used in league matches against Levante, Valencia, Osasuna, and Girona, as well as in the Champions League clash against Olympiacos.
Casado became Flick’s primary replacement for De Jong, especially in the early part of the season.
However, most of those appearances came months ago, and the current demands of the season may require a slightly different balance.
Meanwhile, with Pedri now fully fit, this pairing immediately becomes the most natural solution again.
Eric and Pedri
Eric Garcia can play as a pivot. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)
Another solution Flick has previously used involved moving Eric Garcia into midfield alongside Pedri.
After initially favouring Casado, the coach paired Eric Garcia with Pedri in a double pivot, and the move worked well.
The versatile Spaniard demonstrated his quality by stepping into midfield and performing with composure. However, circumstances have changed.
He has since returned to his natural centre-back role and has become a key figure in the heart of defence.
At this stage, removing him from central defence may weaken another vital area of the pitch.
Eric, Olmo and Fermin
When De Jong was suspended against Athletic Club and Pedri was also unavailable, Flick tried a more attack-minded setup.
In that match, Eric Garcia was positioned deeper, with Olmo and Fermín playing slightly ahead.
The Dutchman’s suspension against Copenhagen saw Flick repeat the same formula.
This approach gave Barcelona more creativity in advanced areas but also demanded strong discipline from the deeper midfielder.
It was a move that showed Flick is willing to take calculated risks depending on the opponent and context of the game.
Casado and Bernal
Casado and Bernal can play together. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
In matches against Alaves at home and Racing Santander away in Copa del Rey, Flick placed his trust in youth.
Casado and Marc Bernal started together in midfield, while Pedri was introduced in the second half in both games.
This pairing reflected the coach’s confidence in La Masia talent and his willingness to rotate when needed.
Bernal, in particular, showed maturity beyond his years, though the pressure of decisive matches could test that partnership further.
Casado, Olmo and Fermin
In the recent match against Mallorca, with Pedri unavailable and De Jong only fit enough for the bench, Flick opted for Casado as a pivot alongside Olmo and Fermin.
This was another variation that showed just how many solutions the German has already explored this season.
Each setup brings a slightly different balance between control, defensive security and attacking freedom.
Despite the numerous combinations already tried, there are still unexplored possibilities. Bernal and Pedri have not yet started together in midfield.
Similarly, Olmo and Fermin have not shared the pitch as starters alongside Pedri.