Five options for Hansi Flick to replace injured Barcelona midfielder | Barca Universal

"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."

"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."

"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."

Barcelona faces a significant midfield crisis with Frenkie de Jong sidelined for five to six weeks due to a right calf muscle injury. The timing is particularly damaging as Pedri has just returned to full fitness. This marks De Jong's second extended absence this season, having already missed 14 matches previously. Coach Hansi Flick must now reconfigure his midfield strategy during crucial fixtures. The most frequently used alternative pairing has been Marc Casado with Pedri, deployed in matches against Levante, Valencia, Osasuna, Girona, and Olympiacos. Another viable option involves Eric Garcia moving into midfield alongside Pedri, a combination that previously demonstrated effectiveness.

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