Barcelona coach Hansi Flick emphasized the need for squad rotation due to a congested schedule, with players such as Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Inigo Martinez having logged significant playing time. This approach continued leading up to the team’s La Liga match against Osasuna.
Flick’s strategy saw young players taking prominent roles, including Pau Victor, who made his first La Liga start at 21, alongside Gerard Martin (22) and Pablo Torre (21). The most inexperienced was 19-year-old Sergi Dominguez, who was starting his second senior match, paired with 17-year-old Pau Cubarsi in defense.
The choice to field such a young lineup was risky, particularly against an Osasuna side that had earned 10 points in their initial four home games this season. This risk became apparent just 17 minutes in, when Osasuna’s Bryan Zaragoza provided an excellent cross that Ante Budimir converted into a goal with a well-placed header, easily outpacing Cubarsi.
Flick was aware of Budimir’s threat, having scored numerous headers since joining La Liga in 2019. However, with multiple injuries affecting key players like Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Ronald Araujo, and Frenkie de Jong, Flick felt he had to press forward with his rotation strategy. Raphinha was rested after a busy start to the season.
This rotation resulted in Victor’s first start on the right wing. His involvement in Osasuna’s second goal came after he lost a midfield duel with Lucas Torro, leading to a quick attack that culminated in Zaragoza scoring a second goal for Osasuna. Despite Barcelona’s protests about a possible foul, the goal stood after VAR review, reflecting a challenging first half where Barca struggled to establish any rhythm.
Barcelona found themselves trailing 2-0, having failed to register a shot in the first half. However, in the second half, a mistake by Osasuna’s goalkeeper allowed Pau Victor to score, giving Barcelona a glimmer of hope. But that hope quickly faded when Dominguez fouled Budimir in the box, resulting in a penalty that Budimir converted for Osasuna’s third goal.
Osasuna’s lead extended to 4-1 after Abel Bretones scored, capitalizing on a defensive lapse from Barcelona. Although Yamal managed to score a second goal for Barcelona, it wasn’t enough to change the outcome, marking Barcelona’s first defeat of the season.
After the match, Flick acknowledged the team’s mistakes and reiterated the need for rotation amidst their demanding schedule. He defended his decision to rest some players, including top scorer Robert Lewandowski, indicating that managing player fatigue was imperative with games coming every three days.
Despite Saturday’s loss, Barcelona remain at the top of La Liga, holding a four-point advantage over rivals Real Madrid. Upcoming fixtures include a Champions League match against Young Boys and a highly anticipated clash against Bayern Munich on October 20, followed by the Clasico against Real Madrid. Flick aims to have his best players prepared for these crucial games while navigating the limitations of his current squad depth.