Discharge due to sanction of Gerard Piqué, who saw the fifth yellow in Pamplona, opens the door of the eleven of Barça against Elche to Eric Garcia, who has not played since the 1-3 victory against Villarreal after having also started in the first game of the ‘It was Xavi Hernández’, Barça-Espanyol (1-0). The 20-year-old center-back completed the 90 minutes that day, but there was a final mess at the Estadio de la Cerámica and something should not have convinced the new coach because he did not play again without injury, although it does seem that some discomfort could influence their disappearance in the defeats against Betis (0-1) and Bayern (3-0) and in the draw against Osasuna (2-2). Curiously, Eric was a starter in the only two Barça victories with Xavi on the bench.
It would also be an opportunity to earn the position for Eric in the apparent ‘casting’ that he is doing Xavi facing the winter market, which Osasuna rescued from ostracism even to Umtiti. It will be necessary to see if he has continuity or gives the place to his compatriot Lenglet, with Araujo as third central.
Waiting for the federal discharge of Dani Alves, with Sergi Roberto injured and without confidence of the technician in Dest The Mingueza for the right side, a defense of three centrals and a middle populated with players with permission to step on the area is sensed as Frenkie de Jong and Nico González, with the back protected by Sergio Busquets and maybe with Jordi Alba, already recovered from his injury according to the Xavi, on the left wing as a lane. It would be a way to go from 3-4-3 to 4-3-3, with Alba more advanced or more delayed, depending on the development of the meeting. The sacrificed could be GaviNot because of his excellent sports performance, but because he has four yellows and if he sees the fifth he will be out on Tuesday at the Pizjuán against Sevilla, a match in which he is now essential at 17 years of age. It cannot be ruled out in the midfielder to Riqui Puig after his good minutes in the friendly Barça-Boca.
The problems come in an attack again low due to the withdrawal of Omen for his heart problems and injuries to Ansu Fati, Memphis and Braithwaite, who are still in the infirmary with Pedri and Sergi Roberto. In the extremes they seem safe Dembele, without physical problems despite the change in Pamplona, and Abde. And of ‘9’ only remains Luke de Jong, reserved in Saudi Arabia. Another option would be to invent a ‘false 9’ like your own Dembélé, Jutglà or Coutinho.