Young Barcelona Talent Set to Fill In for Suspended Winger 

After FC Barcelona’s goalless draw with Getafe in their first La Liga match at Coliseum Alfonso Perez, they’re faced with a forced situation that demands changes.

First off, Barcelona has to address the suspensions given to Raphinha, the Brazilian winger, and Xavi Hernandez, their head coach. Both these important figures will be absent for the next two games due to their actions in the Getafe match.

Replacing Xavi will be his brother, Oscar Hernandez, which is an understandable move. However, Raphinha’s suspension opens up possibilities for more flexible changes to adapt to his absence.

According to Spanish outlet SPORT, 19-year-old midfielder Gavi could benefit from Raphinha’s suspension. Xavi Hernandez might choose to deploy Gavi as the left-sided forward in the front three while also utilizing him as a fourth midfielder.

This setup isn’t new to Gavi, as it was frequently used last season at FC Barcelona. It allows the young player to contribute width to the attack while seamlessly blending into the midfield, providing better control of the game.

Alternatively, Gavi could be placed directly as a midfielder, which aligns with his preferred position. He could operate behind the traditional setup of having two pure wingers flanking the center forward. This tactical option could be explored by Xavi for the upcoming Barcelona match against Cadiz.