Gavi, another asset with fresh legs

Gavi has played just 191 of Barcelona's 1,170 minutes this season due to a knee injury, but offers the midfield freshness Flick says the team needs after losses to PSG and Real Madrid.

Barcelona have lacked the midfield freshness manager Hansi Flick identified as a problem, and Gavi is positioned as a key asset to help restore the team's identity after recent defeats to PSG (4-2) and Real Madrid.

The Spanish midfielder has managed only 191 minutes across 13 official matches this season, split between La Liga (146) and Champions League (45) across seven games. A right knee contusion sidelined him after his opening-day start against Elche on 23 August, keeping him out of subsequent fixtures. He returned briefly in September with seven minutes against Feyenoord and 29 against Racing, then was given more substantial time after the international break. Flick started him against Getafe (3-0) on 10 October but substituted him at 61 minutes, then gave him eight minutes in Istanbul against Galatasaray three days later.

Gavi featured more prominently in Paris against PSG a week ago, appearing when the score was level with 30 minutes remaining and playing alongside Rodrigo Hernández in midfield. He nearly set up a goal, assisting Lamine Yamal's effort which PSG keeper Matvéi Safónov saved. However, Flick did not select him for the Clásico against Real Madrid, a decision the midfielder acknowledged from the bench. The World Cup winner remains committed to the club despite limited playing time and faces potential omission from Spain's squad on 6 November.