Barça’s Bold Reset: Flick Turns to Youth as Christensen Returns Against Celta Vigo

Match Preview

Barcelona’s head coach Hans Flick announced the squad for the Sunday night clash with Celta Vigo at Balaídos, as the Catalan club seeks balance after a 2-2 draw with Club Brugge in the Champions League. Barca aim to claim three points to stay in the La Liga title race and to reassure fans ahead of the international break.

Key Updates

Christensen returns after missing three games, including the Clasico, with a muscular issue. Barcelona announced medical clearance on Sunday morning. Eric Garcia will wear a protective mask after a nose fracture against Brugge and is expected to start at right-back. Two other regulars remain sidelined due to injuries, with their return to be assessed after the break. Jules Conde was included in the squad despite not completing Saturday training, leaving his availability uncertain.

Squad and Outlook

In addition to the first-team players, Flick called up academy prospect Xavi Espart, who was due to feature for the reserves against Torino that evening. Espart joins a group of academy players such as Koshin, Eller, and Dru in travel for Vigo. The official Barcelona squad for the match shows a blend of first-team and academy options, with a large mix of names reflecting the club’s depth in a demanding period.

The coach stressed that injuries have hit the squad hard, but the mood persists. Flick said: “Selta Vigo is in good form; they have four wins in a row and momentum, but the result will depend on the approach we take.” He added that the support from president Laporta remains important and that more belief is necessary. He also acknowledged that their defensive shape against Brugge sometimes sat too deep and called for better cohesion with and without the ball. “I’m convinced the players know what to do,” he said.

Asked about comparisons with his Bayern Munich stint, Flick argued it’s easy to draw parallels but not fair, noting injuries forced adaptations. He underlined Barca’s need for more points and said they are five points behind Real Madrid, stressing the long season ahead. He noted that with injuries easing as players return, Barca could reach their best form after two or three matches and that everyone must stay committed to the project until May.

Regarding defense, Garcia is ready to play with a protective mask, while Conde’s participation remains uncertain pending late checks. Espart’s inclusion offers another option from the academy should conditions demand it. Ahead of kickoff, Barca balance ambition with prudence as they chase a position nearer to Real Madrid.

Punchlines aside, the road to glory remains long, and Barca will keep fighting until the final whistle. If injuries were a transfer window, Barca would have signed Rest and Recovery more than once—talk about a medical-insurance plan. And with the squad depth, they might as well call the training ground a “Recovery Camp” and pretend it’s a tactical retreat.