Barcelona took a serious step in the direction of a possible La Liga title with a comeback win over Atletico Madrid on Sunday night time. Their 4-2 victory was the primary of any facet on the Metropolitano domestically this season, nevertheless it got here at a heavy value, with Marc Casado succumbing to damage.
Whereas Inigo Martinez suffered a knee difficulty, he may very well be again after the worldwide break, however Casado’s damage is rather more critical. The 21-year-old is prone to miss the remainder of the season after being recognized with a tear in his knee ligament.
In response to Sport, Barcelona supervisor Hansi Flick has three options to take over the minutes from Casado between now and the tip of the season. Whereas Frenkie de Jong appears prone to stay the starter, Eric Garcia is the first candidate to hold out the extra defensive duties that Casado had been finishing up, and he was the one who changed Casado on Sunday night.
The second different is Gavi, who’s but to play any significant minutes in a deeper position this season, however had excelled there beneath Xavi Hernandez final season. He’s a extra intense possibility than Eric by way of urgent and disputing the ball. The third possibility could be Andreas Christensen, who additionally operated in entrance of the defence at instances beneath Xavi, however has but to play for the reason that second sport of the season attributable to damage points, and seems unlikely to have main minutes within the closing two months of the season.
Casadó performed whereas being injured for 40 minutes. @tjuanmarti
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) March 17, 2025
Garcia is actually probably the most defensive between himself and Gavi, and but the latter might be nearer to Casado in his skillset and his character. Flick has extra usually turned to Garcia off the bench to hold out that position although, and with Jules Kounde being exploited of late in huge video games, Flick might favour an possibility who’s extra comfy masking for the Frenchman.