“We now have to rotate as there are lots of video games within the subsequent few weeks and gamers like Lamine (Yamal), Raphinha and Inigo (Martinez) have performed loads of minutes,” Barcelona coach Hansi Flick mentioned on Spanish TV station Movistar within the minutes earlier than Saturday’s La Liga sport at Osasuna.
Flick continued with a rotation coverage he has been utilizing in current weeks amid a heavy fixture checklist of La Liga and Champions League video games. Pau Victor (21) was given his first La Liga begin, with left-back Gerard Martin (22) and midfielder Pablo Torre (21) the opposite comparatively new faces within the XI.
Most inexperienced of all was younger centre-back Sergi Dominguez (19) beginning his second senior sport. His accomplice in the midst of the Barca defence was Pau Cubarsi, a prodigy in his second season in La Liga however nonetheless simply 17 years previous.
It was a threat, particularly given Osasuna’s El Sadar stadium isn’t a straightforward place to go — Vicente Moreno’s aspect had taken 10 factors from their first 4 residence La Liga video games this season.
The chance was evident 17 minutes into the sport. Osasuna winger Bryan Zaragoza’s cross was wonderful, and centre-forward Ante Budimir simply received forward of Cubarsi to attain a header from six yards.
It was robust for the children on the again, however not a shock. Burly Croatian centre-forward Budimir is an professional at headed targets, he has 20 since he arrived in La Liga in 2019, greater than some other participant within the division. He even scored two when his Mallorca crew misplaced 5-2 to Barca in December 2019.
Flick would have been conscious of Budimir’s experience within the air, however he felt he had little selection however to rotate his XI. Barca have loads of video games for the time being, and in addition loads of accidents, and a squad which lacks skilled depth in lots of positions. Of their 4 squad captains Marc Andre Ter Stegen, Ronald Araujo and Frenkie de Jong are all out with long-term accidents, whereas Raphinha was rested after enjoying each minute within the first seven La Liga video games.
The rotations additionally meant a primary La Liga begin for Victor on the suitable wing. The previous Girona participant was within the image for Osasuna’s second aim, dropping a bodily problem in midfield to Lucas Torro. With the Barca defence off form, Pablo Ibanez’s fast ball despatched Zaragoza operating in behind Dominguez, who couldn’t sustain. The attacker, on mortgage from Bayern Munich, coolly dummied Barca keeper Inaki Pena earlier than knocking the ball into the empty web.
Barca felt it ought to have been disallowed for a foul by Torro on Victor, however the aim stood after a VAR assessment. The two-0 scoreline was additionally a good reflection of the sport at that time, with half-hour performed Osasuna had taken 5 pictures to Barca’s zero from a Barca crew who have been struggling to get any rhythm going.
Pau Victor celebrates his aim (Cesar Manso/AFP through Getty Photos)
Two of Flicks fledglings™ have been concerned when Barca received again within the sport early within the second half. Left-back Martin, who was very excessive up the pitch, intercepted a fast throw by Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera. As Herrera scrambled again to his line he in some way let Victor’s weak 25-yard shot squeeze previous him for his first La Liga aim.
The Barca coach was now sending on some rested gamers, and the momentum appeared to be with the Catalans. Nevertheless, quickly after Lewandowski was substituted, Osasuna broke once more behind Barca’s excessive line. The unlucky Dominguez clearly took out Budimir as he was about to shoot. The Croat picked himself up and calmly scored the penalty.
Barca’s ache was not over but, as Abel Bretones received a 50-50 with Lamine Yamal 25 yards out, and the Osasuna left-back instantly smacked the bouncing ball previous Pena’s dive to the online. Flick’s crew had solely conceded 5 targets of their earlier seven La Liga video games however have been now 4-1 down.
Yamal’s 20-yard drive made it 4-2 and amid frantic remaining levels, the 17-year-old’s cross was headed off a submit at point-blank vary by Ferran Torres. However it was too little too late and Barca’s first defeat of the season was nicely deserved.
“We now have to simply accept this defeat, we didn’t play so nicely, made many errors,” Flick mentioned on Movistar TV after the sport, whereas defending his determination to rotate the XI. “It’s my accountability. I’ve to guard gamers who’ve performed many minutes. I don’t count on us to play like this. I informed the crew we now have to proceed. I believe we’re on the suitable means (path).”
🎙️ Hansi Flick and Pedri speak about Barça’s 4-2 defeat to Osasuna. #OsasunaBarça pic.twitter.com/mXgnsBr0Gb
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 28, 2024
Flick turned down a chance to criticise the referee for not disallowing Osasuna’s second aim because of the obvious foul on Victor however did communicate up when requested why he had eliminated La Liga’s prime scorer when his crew wanted targets.
“(Lewandowski) additionally must relaxation,” Flick replied. “We now have a sport each three days. The crew till now had performed actually nice.”
That’s honest. Even after Saturday’s end result, it’s nonetheless an incredible begin which few would have predicted as Flick was employed to exchange former playmaker Xavi as Barca coach final summer season.
Seven wins from their first seven video games included some spectacular outcomes — a 4-1 win at Girona and 5-1 victory at Villarreal final weekend. Barca have been higher organised than final season, and each Girona coach Michel and Villarreal’s Marcelino praised their urgent off the ball, proof of Flick’s work on the coaching floor. It additionally seems the crew are coaching more durable now, with president Joan Laporta having mandated an elevated emphasis on health.
Given this workload, the choice to rotate so closely on Saturday night was arguably rational. The issue is there are usually not many skilled back-ups for Flick. Barca’s monetary points imply squad gamers have been shed frequently via current switch home windows. Of Xavi’s squad final season, senior gamers Ilkay Gundogan, Joao Felix, Joao Cancelo, Sergi Roberto, Oriol Romeu and Marcos Alonso all left in the summertime, with €60m signing Dani Olmo — who can be injured — the one senior participant signed.
Flick has been getting lots out of his greatest gamers — Lewandowski, Raphinha and Pedri are all producing way more than they did final 12 months beneath Xavi. Wonderkid Yamal has additionally been in great kind — the 17-year-old has 5 targets and 5 assists in 9 video games this season. However Barca can’t realistically count on a youngster to maintain up such world-class kind via the season.
Even earlier than Saturday’s sport at Osasuna, Flick had typically needed to maintain filling gaps in his squad. With Gavi and Fermin Lopez injured, in addition to De Jong, 21-year-old Marc Casado, 17-year-old Marc Bernal, and centre-back Eric Garcia have all had for use in the midst of the park — an space so essential for any Barcelona crew.
Flick’s aspect are nonetheless prime of the desk, with a four-point lead on greatest rivals Actual Madrid, a minimum of earlier than Madrid play at their neighbours Atletico Madrid on Sunday night.
The video games maintain coming for Barca, with a match at Montjuic in opposition to Swiss crew Younger Boys within the Champions League on Tuesday. Circled within the calendar is Flick’s former crew Bayern visiting for a UCL sport on October 20. Three days later is the Clasico at Madrid’s Bernabeu.
Flick will wish to get his absolute best XI in the absolute best form for these video games. He can even hope everybody across the Catalan membership understands the bounds he’s working beneath.
(Photograph: Cesar Manso/AFP through Getty Photos)
