In today's Classic, Barcelona's right back, Xavi Espart, left the field half an hour into the match after suffering a blow to his right knee during an action with French striker Touchaméni. The player, who had started in the last Champions League against PSG, asked for a change and was immediately replaced by youth player Adrián Balde, who had not been in the plans of Flick's technical direction.
The incident occurred at a time when Barça were already dealing with a series of physical problems. Eric García, RúbenKoundé and ChristianChristensen were in the infirmary recovering from muscle injuries, which leaves the team with a more fragile defensive scenario than usual. The replacement of Espart with Balde, who has been a rarely used player, adds an additional layer of uncertainty to the club's defense.
Balde, who has played very little this season, entered the Classic with the expectation of demonstrating his ability in one of the greatest rivalries in Spanish football. His last appearance was on March 4, when he replaced Espart in the last 16 minutes of the match against PSG, occupying the left-back position while Cancelo moved to the right wing. Before that, his only participation was in the match against Racing, in which Barcelona had already secured victory.
According to comments from the management, Balde was not included in Flick's plans and received a warning in the summer, suggesting that he seek an exit from the club due to the arrival of Espart and the limited opportunities he would have in the first team. This situation has raised doubts about Balde's continuity at Barcelona and his future within the club.
With the game still in progress, Xavi's team faces the challenge of maintaining defensive solidity without the presence of Espart and with uncertainty over the availability of other key players. The rest of the match will take place with the expectation that Barça will be able to overcome Balde's physical limitations and lack of experience in a scenario as demanding as the Clásico.