When it rains in Barcelona, it pours and right now, Hansi Flick is feeling the downpour. The head coach is facing a mounting injury crisis in attack ahead of Saturday’s clash with Girona, and the timing couldn’t be worse.
The international break offered a brief window for rest and recovery but it also delivered another blow as Robert Lewandowski has now joined the growing list of absentees. This already includes Raphinha, Gavi, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, and Fermín López. Meanwhile, Ferran Torres remains a doubt due to hamstring injury
While a few players may be nearing a return, rushing them back before a crucial Champions League tie and a El Clásico on the horizon poses a serious risk. Flick must now weigh short-term needs against long-term consequences and figure out how to patch together a forward line with depth running dangerously thin.
Here is how Barça could line up against Girona
GK: Wojciech Szczesny
With an injury crisis already affecting the attack, there's also a growing concern in goal. The Pole is expected to retain his place until mid-November, when Joan García is set to return from injury.
RB: Eric Garcia
Been a revelation since the start of the season and due to numbers in defence, he can give Jules Kounde a rest after he played the full 90 minutes for France in their latest World Cup qualifier.
CB: Ronald Araujo
He now needs to prove himself as he looks to cement a place in a defence that has looked shaky this season, perhaps a result of the high defensive line and Flick’s constant rotation.
CB: Pau Cubarsi
Nomination for the FIFA Golden Boy award will now another who will look to prove himself ahead of a testing couple of weeks for Barcelona. Clean sheets and solid displays need to be the focus.
LB: Alejandro Balde
Will need more minutes following his injury layoff as he looks to get up to speed, likely to be rested for the Champions League fixture to save legs for Real Madrid.
CM: Frenkie de Jong
He’ll be eager to celebrate his new contract with three points and a strong performance, as he continues to establish himself as the first name on the team sheet, locked in a quiet battle with Pedri for that distinction.
CM: Marc Casado
Stability in the central areas will allow Pedri to push further forward, while Casado can anchor the midfield alongside the captain, keeping things tight and controlled with his work rate and pressing style.
RW: Roony Bardghji
With Lamine Yamal not ready just yet, the Swede can come in and continue his promise in a Barcelona shirt, where he is lacking a goal and assists right now. Will hopefully come with more game time.
CAM: Pedri
The man may not be in his natural position, but he can be aggressive in his pressing in this advanced role. Although likes linking the play from deep, Pedri can make those late runs into the box to become a goal threat that Barcelona require at the moment.
LW: Fermin Lopez
Returning from injury, but said to be training throughout the international break. While not in his preferred central role, the Spaniard is still capable of causing problems from the wide areas and will likely interchange with Rashford to offer a different dynamic in attack.
ST: Marcus Rashford
Resting Torres is pivotal and Rashford has the qualities to put a poor Girona defence to the sword on Saturday. Predicting a few goals for the English forward in this fixture.