German coach Xabi Alonso, who has remained firm in his defense throughout the season, faces a dilemma against Alavés which will be played next Saturday, October 31 at the Camp Nou. The absence of Xavi Espart, who was injured after the Classic, and the expected recovery of Koundé, who suffered a sprained ankle, force Flick to assemble a defensive lineup that he has not seen in the first 13 official matches.
On the last day of LaLiga, Barça lost Espart, Eric García, Christensen and Koundé in the infirmary. Christensen, injured in the rectus femoris of the quadriceps after the match with Sevilla, will not be available for the match against Alavés, although he could return for the match against Atlético on November 8. Eric García, who injured the rectus femoris of his right thigh against Betis, still needs recovery time. For his part, Koundé is in the process of rehabilitation and is expected to be available for Saturday's match, although his participation is not guaranteed.
Faced with this situation, Flick has resorted to one of the defensive combinations that he has used most frequently during the season. The lineup you will likely see on the field includes Cubarsí and Gerard Martín at center back, with Koundé or Espart occupying the right back and left back, respectively. This formation has been the most common, appearing on three different occasions, and has been used in matches against Athletic, Valencia and Levante. In total, Flick has used ten different defenders in the 13 official matches, demonstrating the team's flexibility in the defensive zone.
The coach has also considered the possibility of introducing versatile players such as Brian Fariñas, although this would be considered an experimental option. The youth player Balde, who has played only 86 minutes spread over three games, has not been used in the left back position. In terms of midfield and attack, the team does not have players punished by injuries, which allows Flick to combine different formations and give minutes to the most loaded players.
With the defense in a state of uncertainty, the upcoming game against Alavés presents itself as a test for the team and an opportunity for the German coach to evaluate the depth of his squad. Kick-off of the match was scheduled for 9:00 p.m., and the result will influence Barça's preparation for the confrontation against Aston Villa in the Champions League on Tuesday, November 3. The club hopes that Koundé's recovery and Espart's absence will not affect defensive cohesion too much, but the injury situation forces Flick to maintain a flexible strategy and make the most of the available resources.