Barcelona’s defensive shortage has opened a door that looked unlikely a few weeks ago. With four defenders unavailable and Hansi Flick openly saying Brian Fariñas is ready, the possibility of a debut against Alavés on Saturday is now very real.
That is the key context behind Flick’s comments on Friday. Barcelona are not simply looking for depth; they are looking for solutions. Christensen, Eric García, Koundé and Xavi Espart are all unavailable, and that leaves the coaching staff with fewer options than usual at the back. In that environment, a young player does not need a long runway to become relevant. He just needs to be ready.
Why Brian Fariñas is in the frame
Fariñas has already been part of the first-team environment since the start of the season, and his case is strengthened by what Flick saw in pretemporada. He played one match at right back during that period, which at least gives Barcelona a reference point for where he can help if needed. Flick also made it clear that the youngster has impressed him in training, describing him as intelligent and saying he deserves to play now.
That matters because Barcelona are not making this decision in a vacuum. The club are short of defenders, and the match against Alavés arrives at a time when the balance of the squad is being tested. When a coach says he is “looking for solutions,” that is usually a sign that the normal hierarchy has been disrupted.
Why Balde may be left out
The other half of the story is Alejandro Balde. This season he has played 88 minutes across three matches, and Flick’s public remarks suggest that he is not currently in the immediate plan. The issue is not just fitness or selection. Flick said Balde lacks the confidence he needs in his game, and that defenders are too important for Barcelona to carry uncertainty in key moments.
That is a significant statement because it shows how Flick is thinking about the role of his fullbacks. Barcelona’s pressing structure depends heavily on them, and the coach made it clear that Balde needs more confidence before he can be trusted at his best level. In practical terms, that leaves the door open for a younger, less expected option like Fariñas.
The bigger picture is straightforward. Barcelona are being forced to improvise in defense, and that can create opportunities for players who were not supposed to be part of the short-term conversation. Fariñas is one of them. If he does debut against Alavés at Spotify Camp Nou, it would not just be a novelty. It would be another reminder that squad availability can reshape a coach’s plans as quickly as any tactical idea.
For Barcelona, the question is no longer whether they have enough names. It is whether the names available can still fit the demands of the system. Right now, Brian Fariñas is one of the answers Flick is clearly willing to consider.
