Hansi Flick tests Barcelona Atletic’s new left-back in first-team session amid Balde and Kounde absences

FC Barcelona returned to coaching yesterday following a slim exit within the Copa del Rey semi-finals in opposition to Atletico Madrid. The Blaugrana squad is at present coping with a number of absences, prompting coach Hansi Flick to depend on a mixture of first-team regulars and reserve staff gamers to finish the session.

Goalkeeper Diego Kochen and midfielder Tommy Marques, who often practice with the primary staff, had been current as typical, together with Xavi Espart, who has already earned Flick’s belief this season.

In accordance with Sports activities Worldthe notable improvement got here with the inclusion of Patricio Pacífico, a 19-year-old left-back who joined Barcelona Atlètic in the course of the winter switch window on mortgage from Defensor Sporting.

Pacífico has but to debut with the reserves because of muscle issues, although he was known as up beforehand by Belletti for a reserve match in opposition to Valencia Mestalla.

Regardless of his lack of sport time, Flick included him within the first-team session to cowl for the absences of Alejandro Balde and Jules Kounde. Balde is sidelined for 4 weeks with a distal hamstring harm, whereas Kounde is anticipated to overlook 4 to 5 weeks with a mid-hamstring harm.

Jofre Torrents can also be out with a left ankle syndesmosis harm and won’t return till the tip of the present season.

With a number of key gamers unavailable, Flick’s choice to check Pacífico with the primary staff gives an early alternative for the younger left-back to impress and doubtlessly earn a task throughout this difficult interval for the Barcelona squad.