HANSI FLICK PUSHES BARCELONA DEFENDER TO RIGHT-BACK AHEAD OF EL CLáSICO
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick is considering using Andreas Christensen at right-back, a role he successfully filled for Denmark. This could solve a problem position ahead of the Catalan derby vs Girona and El Clásico.
On Saturday afternoon, Barcelona will play Girona in a Catalan derby to resume play following the international break. Hansi Flick might make some adjustments with just one week until El Clásico, and the same might happen when Olympiacos come to the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Tuesday.
Despite their numerous injury problems, Barcelona's defence seems untouched at the moment. Now that Alejandro Balde has recovered from a hamstring strain, Flick has a wide range of alternatives in his back line, though he might still try a few different things.
And since he is behind Pau Cubarsi, Ronald Araujo, and Eric Garcia in centre defence, Andreas Christensen, who has had difficulty getting regular minutes this season, might be included in one of those.
Christensen played a key role in Denmark's World Cup qualification victories over Belarus and Greece during the international break. He started at right-back in the latter game, which would have stunned Barcelona fans, but Sport has disclosed that Flick was the driving force behind this choice.
Flick suggested to Denmark's head coach, Brian Reimer, in recent weeks that Christensen might be used as a right-back since he believes the 29-year-old can play effectively in that position. The player himself concurred, and as a result, he started against Greece and performed admirably.
In the upcoming weeks, Christensen might be employed at right-back.
Given his preference for playing right-back and his previous declaration that he wanted to stay in Catalonia, Christensen may have an opportunity to play there for Barcelona. Eric seems to be more reliable in the centre of defence, which gives the Dane an advantage over Jules Kounde, who has struggled for consistency this season.
With Saturday's matchup against Girona serving as his first opportunity, it is unclear if Christensen will be utilised there in the upcoming weeks.
BARCELONA SECURE 14-POINT LEAD OVER MADRID; ESPANYOL RESULT NOW DETERMINES TITLE
Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres scored late to move Barcelona 14 points clear, leaving them one Madrid loss from the title.
Barcelona now sit 14 points ahead of Real Madrid, and if Madrid slips up against Espanyol on Sunday, the title’s theirs.
Lewandowski finally broke the deadlock after 81 minutes, nodding in a header, and Torres added another four minutes from the end. Osasuna didn't quit, though Raul Garcia pulled one back late, but Barcelona held on for all three points. They’re inching closer to a second league title in a row, the club’s 29th overall.
If Madrid beats Espanyol, Barcelona’s next chance to seal it comes in the Clásico on May 10 against their biggest rivals.
Flick’s trying to keep his team’s focus on the next match rather than the Clasico, but Barcelona played the first half like a squad with little to lose. Missing the injured Lamine Yamal, they lost a chunk of their energy on the attack. Sure, they dominated possession, but breaking down Osasuna for real chances? That was tough.
Roony Bardghji, filling in for Yamal on the right, managed a decent long shot, but Osasuna’s keeper, Sergio Herrera, had no trouble stopping it. Honestly, Osasuna nearly shocked everyone before halftime. Ante Budimir battled through two defenders and poked the ball off the post.
Barcelona picked up the pace after the break. Dani Olmo should’ve scored from close range, but he fluffed it. Flick then rolled the dice from the bench, bringing on three subs, including Marcus Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, to take over the right flank.
Rashford almost made an immediate impact, curling a shot just over and injecting some much-needed speed. He set up the opener too, swinging in a perfect cross for Lewandowski, who lost his marker and buried his header. Torres, another sub, finished with precision to double the lead.
Still, it wasn’t comfortable. Garcia scored for Osasuna in stoppage time, left wide open in the box, forcing Barcelona to sweat out the last minutes. The Catalans dug in, clearing everything in sight as Osasuna pressed, but finally, they held on for their tenth league win in a row. Now, all they can do is wait.
REVEALED: THE FIVE TOTTENHAM PLAYERS BARCELONA WANT IF SPURS DROP TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Barcelona scouts identified Xavi Simons, Lucas Bergvall, Van de Ven, Romero, and Porro as potential summer transfer targets.
Barcelona’s got its eye on Tottenham, and if Spurs end up dropping out of the Premier League, things could get wild. You can see why there’s talk that Barcelona’s ready to swoop in and scoop up some of Tottenham’s top talent on the cheap, especially since Tottenham’s facing the possibility of relegation. It’s a mess in North London right now, and Barcelona’s not the only big club watching closely.
Diario SPORT says Barcelona is scouting at least five of Tottenham’s key players. If Spurs really do go down, suddenly a bunch of their stars could be up for grabs at knockdown prices. And with Barcelona still juggling its finances, bargain deals like these are tough for it to pass up.
Xavi Simons is one they’re watching closely. He came up through La Masia, so bringing him back would feel like coming home, plus he’d add plenty of flair and versatility in midfield. Lucas Bergvall’s interesting, too; he almost joined Barcelona before picking Spurs. Injuries and lack of minutes have slowed him down in London, but Barcelona hasn’t stopped believing he’s got huge potential. They could finally land him after missing out on him a couple of years ago.
In defence, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are high on Barca’s wish list. Both guys have proven themselves in the Premier League, and adding them would instantly boost Barcelona’s options at the back. Van de Ven stands out for his speed and ability to play from deep; he’d be a great partner for Pau Cubarsi, and together they could form one of Europe’s most balanced defensive duos.
Pedro Porro’s name is also in the mix. He’d fit right into Barcelona’s attacking style at right-back, but whether they go for him depends on what happens with Jules Kounde. If Barcelona decides to sell Kounde to help balance the books, Porro’s seen as the go-to replacement to deliver attacking runs from defence, which Hansi Flick wants.
All this talk hangs on how Tottenham finishes the season. There are only four Premier League games left, and if Spurs manage to stay up, these deals get way trickier. If they go down, expect a rush of bids not just from Barcelona but also from clubs all over Europe. Still, the chance to play at Camp Nou and return to Champions League football is a big draw, so Barcelona might have the upper hand as things heat up this summer.
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