According to SPORT , Hansi Flick could turn to Marc Bernal and Gavi to restore Barcelona's midfield intensity following their El Clasico defeat to Real Madrid.
After the 2-1 loss, the German coach admitted that his players lacked freshness, and with Alaves, Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid awaiting Barcelona before the international break, changes could be necessary.
Both midfielders offer potential solutions alongside Rodri, whose influence in possession could benefit from greater physical support around him.
Barcelona have options within their squad to address the issue of freshness that Flick pointed out, with Bernal and Gavi among the players capable of bringing additional energy and intensity to midfield.
Bernal has not featured in either of Barcelona's last two league matches against Real Betis and Real Madrid. Gavi, meanwhile, played just 11 minutes against Betis before being left unused against Madrid .
Their limited involvement has left Flick with an opportunity to reconsider his midfield combinations.
Gavi has featured sparingly this season. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Rodri remains central to Barcelona's control of possession and positional structure. However, the team could benefit from surrounding him with players capable of matching the physical demands of high-intensity matches.
Frenkie de Jong got some minutes alongside Rodri this past weekend, but the Dutchman is still working towards his best physical condition.
Bernal and Gavi offer different qualities, but both could help Barça recover the energy that Flick felt was missing against Real Madrid.
Squad depth and rotation could prove decisive during Barcelona's next three fixtures. Alaves, Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid will test the team's ability to maintain their intensity across domestic and European competition before the international break.
Barcelona have already surrendered much of their advantage in the league standings and suffered a Champions League defeat in Paris. Further setbacks would place additional pressure on Flick, making the upcoming fixtures particularly important.
Flick therefore needs his squad to be physically prepared and tactically adaptable. Making better use of players who have recently seen limited action could help Barcelona distribute the workload and avoid further fatigue.
One potential advantage of introducing Bernal or Gavi is their familiarity with Rodri's playing style.
Bernal is also an option for Flick. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Bernal has featured alongside the summer signing in four matches against Feyenoord, Levante, Sevilla and Galatasaray.
Gavi has an even longer history of playing alongside Rodri. The pair have shared the pitch 22 times for Spain and have also featured together for Barcelona in matches against Getafe, Galatasaray, Real Betis and PSG.
That familiarity could make Gavi a useful option if Flick wants to strengthen the midfield without disrupting its overall structure.
A partnership between Rodri and a more physically demanding midfielder could also allow Pedri greater freedom in an advanced role.
With Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid following Alaves, rotation is becoming increasingly important. Flick has enough options to adjust his midfield, and using them intelligently could help Barcelona regain their momentum.
