Barcelona’s nightmare: Hansi Flick faces defensive crisis for Osasuna clash | OneFootball

Barcelona are facing yet another challenge ahead of their match against Osasuna.

Hansi Flick already had a difficult task on his hands, and the recent decision to schedule the game on March 27 has only made things worse.

Both clubs had appealed against La Liga’s ruling, but the decision has been upheld, leaving Barcelona in a tough situation.

The timing of the fixture comes just after the international break, making matters even more complicated.

Ronald Araujo and Raphinha, two crucial players for Barcelona, will be playing for Uruguay and Brazil, respectively, less than 48 hours before the Osasuna clash.

This means they will have little to no recovery time before being expected to perform for their club.

To add to the woes, Inigo Martinez is sidelined with a knee injury that is expected to keep him out for at least two to three weeks.

Trouble for Flick and Barcelona?

Barcelona have 13 players away on international duty, many of whom will be playing until Tuesday or Wednesday, giving them minimal preparation time before the Osasuna match.

Barcelona could be in trouble. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

While Real Madrid previously voiced their complaints about playing 72 hours after a Champions League fixture, Barcelona’s situation is significantly worse.

Further compounding their difficulties, Pau Cubarsi suffered an ankle sprain during Spain’s match against the Netherlands. Although the injury is not severe, his availability for the Osasuna game remains in doubt.

What are Flick’s options?

Currently, Eric Garcia is the only fully fit centre-back at Flick’s disposal. The potential absence of Cubarsi and Martinez leaves Barcelona with limited defensive options.

There is a small hope that Araujo could return early if he picks up a yellow card in Uruguay’s first match against Argentina, as that would result in a suspension, allowing him to return to Barcelona sooner.

However, if he plays against Bolivia on Tuesday night, he will only arrive back in Spain late on Wednesday or early Thursday, suffering from fatigue and jet lag.

Meanwhile, Andreas Christensen is close to recovering from his injury, but given his history with fitness issues, rushing him back into action would be a major risk.

With such a tight schedule and limited options, Hansi Flick will have to make some crucial decisions regarding his defensive setup for the Osasuna match.