El Clasico a painful lesson: Flick puts Barcelona star to a real test

In a report by Marca on Wednesday, under the headline "The Gavi riddle", the paper pointed to the stark contrast between the two versions of Gavi, before and after his injuries.

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It added: "That energetic player, with his attacking pressing, able to motivate his team-mates and fight for every ball as if it were the last, was far more than just a substitute. His personality and his ability to lift the team's tempo made him an important player for both Barcelona and the Spanish national team. Now, however, he seems to have slipped into a secondary role that he is struggling to escape."

It explained: "The Clasico was a clear example. In a match of the highest level, and with everything a clash against Real Madrid represents, Gavi did not play a single minute. This decision clearly reflects his current situation and raises a question about his true standing in the team now. It is easy to rehabilitate a player gradually after a serious injury like this, but it is very difficult for his presence, after his recovery, to remain almost non-existent.

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The outlook, moreover, is far from encouraging. Competition for a midfield berth is fierce and Gavi's chances keep shrinking. Pedri and Rodri look like the main candidates for the holding role, while Frenkie de Jong's return hands the coach even more options.

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Marca stated: "Gavi will have to fight for playing time, which seems hard to come by under the current circumstances. Time is passing, and he needs enough playing time to recover his rhythm, his self-confidence and the status he previously enjoyed."

The paper added: "The most important question is no longer whether Gavi will return to his former level, but whether he will get the opportunities needed to prove it. Recovering his health was the first step, but reclaiming his place at Barcelona may become the real challenge."

It concluded: "Gavi may get some minutes against Alaves due to player rotation, but the question is whether he will continue to get them against Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid."

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