Barcelona manager Hansi Flick faces a defensive selection headache ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain, with injuries to Eric Garcia and Jules Kounde leaving him short of natural right-back options.
Garcia is expected to miss three to four weeks with a muscle injury, while Kounde has been ruled out of the trip to the Parc des Princes with an ankle sprain.
Their simultaneous absences leave Flick needing to reshape his defence for one of Barcelona’s biggest tests of the season.
On that note, the likes of Xavi Espart and Joao Cancelo are the leading alternatives at right-back, although neither has played regularly in that position this season.
For now, Mundo Deportivo explains that the likely solution could see the academy graduate deployed on the right, with the more experienced Cancelo filling in on the opposite flank.
Barcelona injuries force Flick to rethink his defence
Joao Cancelo could feature on the left. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
The loss of Garcia and Kounde is compounded by Andreas Christensen’s absence, further reducing Flick’s options at centre-back.
Hence, Pau Cubarsi is the only fully fit natural centre-back available, while Gerard Martin is expected to recover in time despite finishing Barcelona’s previous match with a swollen foot.
That leaves Flick with limited room for manoeuvre as he prepares his team to face PSG away from home.
Notably, Alejandro Balde is another option in the squad, but his lack of match fitness makes him a less likely candidate to start.
The left-back has played only 12 minutes this season, against Racing, leaving Flick with little recent evidence of his readiness for such a demanding fixture.
Espart and Cancelo lead right-back options
Xavi Esparrt could be Barcelona’s right-back against PSG. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Considering the circumstances, Espart and Cancelo appear to be the most plausible choices to cover the two flanks.
Neither has featured regularly at right-back this season, meaning Flick may have to rely on positional adjustments rather than selecting established starters in their preferred roles.
Cancelo’s experience makes him a candidate to operate on the left, after strong performances this season.
Espart, meanwhile, could be handed a significant opportunity against a strong opponent on the right if Flick opts to trust the academy player in a high-pressure European match.
The arrangement would allow Barcelona to use their available personnel without forcing further changes elsewhere in the backline, although the lack of regular minutes in those roles means the manager will have to weigh tactical familiarity against individual experience.