FC Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has announced his side for tonight’s La Liga encounter at home to Real Betis, and there is some good and bad news.
The good news is that Andreas Christensen is back in the side after overcoming a calf issue, a welcome addition to the defense.
The bad news is that the side is without the services of Inigo Martinez, who was left out due to glute pain.
The 33-year-old centre-half played with muscle overload in Wednesday’s mid-week game at Atletico Madrid and, although he trained as usual on Friday, still had some lingering pain.
To be on the safe side of caution and not risk exacerbating the issue, the coaching staff decided against taking the risk, as next week is a make-or-break Champions League quarter-final against Borussia Dortmund.
Martinez’s absence is precautionary, following his recent return from injury that ruled him out of Spain’s UEFA Nations League games.
Fortunately, Barcelona has adequate cover at the back, and Ronald Araujo, Eric Garcia, and comeback man Christensen are all capable of stepping in behind youngster Pau Cubarsi at the back.
This provides Flick with the right options to manage Real Betis’s attack without risking key men for more significant tests later in the season.
The substitution is characteristic of the club’s tendency to play safe with players’ fitness, opting for long-term performance over short-term risk.
Fans will hope Martinez is fit for the Champions League game, but for now, the team is well-stocked to have a good result in tonight’s league game.
The first team player I.Martinez has a minor gluteal injury in his left leg and is not available for this fixture. pic.twitter.com/XFvGQQFpEN
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 5, 2025
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