Barcelona do not need a reminder that Sunday’s trip to Valencia can turn awkward in a hurry. They already learned that on the final day of last season, when they lost at Mestalla after the title had already been secured. This time, the stakes are different, but the pressure is still there: La Blaugrana are trying to protect a perfect start, Valencia are scrapping around with one point from a possible nine, and Hansi Flick is already weighing up a lineup tweak that says plenty about how seriously he is taking the test.
The most intriguing call is at right back, where Eric García is tipped for a promotion. That is the kind of decision that can look minor on paper and huge on the pitch. Barcelona have been sharp enough already this season, with wins over Athletic Club and five-goal victories against Elche and Rayo Vallecano, but this is exactly the sort of fixture where complacency can sneak in if a coach starts treating a domestic away day like a routine exercise. Flick has not been managing a comfort zone; he has been managing a balancing act.
A small change with a bigger message
That is what makes the Eric García call so interesting. Barcelona are not just chasing another three points on Sunday. They are also trying to avoid dragging tired legs and loose focus into Wednesday’s Champions League opener at home to Feyenoord. In that sense, a right-back change is less about novelty and more about control. Flick is trying to keep the team clean, stable and sharp without overloading the same few players before a much more demanding week begins.
There is also an obvious football argument behind it. Barcelona have already shown that they can overwhelm teams in this early stretch of the campaign, but that does not mean every match should be approached in the same way. Valencia may have only one point from three matches, yet that record can cut both ways: a struggling side is often a desperate side, and desperate sides are dangerous if they are handed even a hint of encouragement.
So the question is not whether Barcelona are stronger on paper. They are. The question is whether Flick wants to keep the machine flexible rather than predictable. A right-back change involving Eric García would fit that logic neatly. It would also underline a simple truth about title defences: they are rarely lost in the glamorous matches, but they can be undermined by the supposedly manageable ones if the details are neglected.
Barcelona have started the season well enough to invite confidence. Sunday is about making sure that confidence does not turn into carelessness. If Flick does indeed alter the right side, it will be a sign that he understands the real danger at Mestalla: not Valencia’s league position, but the trap of assuming the job will take care of itself.
