""Conceding a goal in the first minute isn't the way to start a game," he said. "It was difficult because we suffered until the very last minute." The left-back was once again tasked with operating in the centre of the defence by Hansi Flick, and the player insisted that the position "is one I'm comfortable in." Discussing what Flick asks of him in the role, Martin explained: "Play the ball out from the back and stay focused in aerial duels and on defence.""
""Casado told me this before we started. It says a lot about what Barça is all about. The nine of us who were here are from here, and we've shown that we can compete on equal terms. It really defines Barça," said Martin. It was a momentous occasion for Marc Bernal as he made his first start for Barcelona in over a year, given that Flick has been careful with the youngster this season after he recovered from an ACL injury."
Barcelona secured a 3-1 win over Deportivo Alavés at Spotify Camp Nou, with Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo (two) on the scoresheet and Raphinha influential on his return. Alavés scored in the first minute and pressured Barcelona throughout, forcing a tense match until Olmo's stoppage-time goal. Gerard Martin started as a left-sided centre-back, described the early concession as difficult, and said he is comfortable in the role while focusing on playing out from the back and aerial duels. Nine of the eleven starters were born in Catalonia, and Marc Bernal made his first start in over a year after ACL recovery.
Read at Barca Universal
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