Barca’s Injury Crisis Pushes Flick to Put Faith in Youth

Barca Turn to Youth Amid Injury Crisis

Barcelona host Girona at Montjuïc on Saturday, chasing a needed revival as a genuine injury crisis has struck following the international break. What should have been a straightforward week of preparation turned into an improvised emergency room scenario at the Joán Gamper Training Complex as several regulars went down and the squad’s depth was exposed.

In this difficult moment, villain number one is injuries, not a transfer window. Ferran Torres is ruled out for the upcoming match after pulling a thigh muscle while with the national team and missing Friday’s session as a precaution. Barcelona later confirmed the injury is being treated as a conservative measure to aid a full recovery from the strain sustained during international duty.

The injury wave leaves head coach Hansi Flick with a depleted squad as he plans to face Girona with a patchwork lineup. The German coach must balance short-term needs with long-term ambitions as the calendar piles up with important fixtures both in La Liga and Europe.

Limited returns offer a glimmer of hope

On a more positive note, there are some encouraging signs in the treatment room. Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez trained normally with the group, and Pedri returned to full team training, signaling a potential pathway back to full fitness in the near future. These arrivals would be welcome edges for a Barcelona side desperately seeking rhythm.

Meanwhile, the injury toll continues to bite in attack and beyond. Robert Lewandowski will be out for several weeks with a left hamstring issue picked up with the national team, forcing Flick to seek creative solutions in the absence of his primary striker. Dani Olmo is also sidelined, widening the gap up front and testing Barca’s strategic options.

Raphinha and other absences complicate matters

Raphinha is dealing with discomfort in his right hamstring and has not rejoined team training, while Javi García remains sidelined due to knee rehabilitation. In addition, the squad continues to manage the long-term issues of Ter Stegen and other squad members who remain in advanced recovery programs, leaving Flick with a challenging mix of veterans and academy graduates on matchday.

Flick turns to the youngsters

With injuries piling up, Flick has resorted to calling on Barça’s academy to fill the gaps. On Friday’s training session, a group of promising talents trained with the first team, including players who could be included in the squad for the Girona game. The aim is to preserve balance and tempo while keeping the core group fresh for a brutal run of fixtures in the weeks ahead.

The decision to lean on youth arrives at a particularly testing time. Barcelona has a sequence of tough matches across domestic and European fronts in quick succession: Girona, Real Madrid, Elche, and Celta Vigo in La Liga, followed by Olympiakos and Club Brugge in the Champions League. The manager’s challenge is to keep the rhythm without burning out the squad’s depth.

Barcelona’s season so far and the European picture

Domestically, Barça began the campaign strongly before a major setback hit in the eighth round, when defeat at Sevilla exposed defensive frailties and underlying physical fatigue. They sit on 19 points from eight matches, with victories at home against Valencia, Getafe, and Real Sociedad and three away wins at Mallorca, Levante, and Real Oviedo. A draw with Riofayo? No—Rayo Vallecano—and a single league loss against Sevilla keep Barça second behind Real Madrid, who lead with 21 points.

EPA

European ambitions under pressure

On the continental front, Barca’s early Champions League campaign has not matched expectations. A hard-fought win over Newcastle United in the opening round was followed by a painful loss to Paris Saint-Germain, leaving them with just three points and placed sixteenth in the group standings. Flick will be hoping for better results soon as the group stage resumes with Olympiakos and Club Brugge, with the aim of securing qualification and momentum for the knockout rounds.

Looking ahead, Flick must craft a careful blend of experience and youth, as injuries threaten to derail the team’s progress in both La Liga and Europe. The Girona game will be the first real test of this new balance, before a grueling run of Clasico and European fixtures tests the squad’s resolve and depth.

A week of tactical engineering under pressure

Post-international break has morphed into a tactical test for Flick, who must juggle missing stars, a congested schedule, and the need to keep players fresh. Balancing the roles of veteran leaders with promising youngsters is no small feat, but it’s a challenge Barcelona must meet head-on if they are to maintain momentum during a window that could define their season.

Ultimately, the club’s approach will shape how far Flick can push this squad—and how quickly Barca can recover their mojo in both the domestic league and Europe. The upcoming classics and European dates will serve as the true barometer for this injury-ravaged, youth-leaning era at Barcelona.

Punchline time: If injuries were a badge, Barca would be the team with the most fashionable cast list since the Oscars. Punchline two: With a bench this short, Flick might need a compass—because right now Barcelona are navigating by the light of their teenagers’ future contracts.