Hansi Flick surprisingly finds a new in-house pivot solution for Barcelona

Barcelona kicked off their 2024/25 La Liga campaign with a convincing 2-1 victory over Valencia.

The Catalans were rocked by a late first-half goal from Hugo Duro, but Valencia’s lead did not last long as Barça struck back with a brace from Robert Lewandowski.

But apart from Lewandowski’s performance, one thing that particularly stood out was a tactical experiment from new coach Hansi Flick.

Flick’s surprising solution for the defensive midfield position

With Frenkie de Jong out injured and the future of Ilkay Gundogan hanging in the balance after a reported transfer request, Flick was faced with a dilemma in the defensive midfield position.

While starting with the young duo of Marc Bernal and Marc Casado in the double-pivot, the German coach opted for a surprising solution for midfield later in the second half: Eric Garcia.

The former Manchester City defender didn’t start the game but was introduced in the final 20 minutes, where he surprisingly operated as a pivot.

While the sample size is small, Garcia’s performance in the role raised eyebrows.

His composure on the ball and ability to distribute quickly were evident, suggesting that he could be a viable option for Flick going forward.

Can Garcia follow in Christensen’s footsteps?

Barcelona’s struggles to find a reliable in-house solution for the defensive midfield role are well-documented.

Last season, Andreas Christensen was deployed in the position for a significant part of the campaign, with varying degrees of success.

The Dane’s versatility and ability to play multiple roles made him a valuable asset, but he was not a natural fit in the pivot.

With Garcia now emerging as a potential option, the question is whether he can follow in Christensen’s footsteps.

The Spaniard possesses similar qualities to the Dane, with good ball-playing ability and defensive awareness.

However, he will need to prove his consistency and physicality in the role to establish himself as a long-term solution.

Flick’s decision to experiment with Garcia in the defensive midfield is a clear indication of the challenges facing Barcelona in this area of the pitch.

If the former Manchester City man can continue to impress, it could provide the Catalan giants with a much-needed boost.