Barcelona's Sweet Midfield Trouble

BARCELONA, MONDAY – More than just three points, Barcelona unearthed a new drama in their 4-0 victory over Real Sociedad at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium, Barcelona, on Sunday (3/3/2025) night Western Indonesian Time. Marc Casado, skilled in defense, surpassed his limits by scoring his first goal of the season. He did so in an effort to secure a starting position, outshining Frenkie De Jong. The rivalry between these two players has become a sweet dilemma for Barca in their quest to secure the championship title.

No coach is currently caught in a dilemma as complex as Hansi Flick's. In every match played by Barca, Flick is always faced with the choice of fielding Casado or De Jong as one of the defensive midfielders in the 4-2-3-1 formation. Both midfielders are delivering their best performances this season. Choosing De Jong would mean sidelining Casado, and vice versa.

Due to the evenly distributed quality of the midfielders, Flick feels reluctant to sideline any of them. There are times when Casado is not played, not because he is performing poorly, but because De Jong is too brilliant to be left out.

Flick's double pivot system tends to require one attacking midfielder and one defensive midfielder. The attacking pivot is usually the attribute of Pedri or Gavi. Both players are diligent in going up to help the attack and dropping into defense in an effort to cut off the opponent's attack.

Meanwhile, a typical defensive pivot position is contested by Casado and De Jong. Both midfielders have defensive instincts and can distribute the ball very well. The problem is, they cannot play together on the field as it would disrupt the balance of Flick's system. It is from this situation that Flick's dilemma begins.

Although they have a similar playing style, De Jong possesses advantages that Casado does not have. The Dutch midfielder is very composed when controlling and distributing the ball, thereby making a positive contribution to the team's attacking efforts. Not only is he skilled at passing the ball, but this season, De Jong has even scored two goals.

"This is a difficult question. Frenkie has developed a lot this month. Casado is more defensive and more focused on defense. With Frenkie, we can control the ball more and be more offensive. Casado is a young player and can develop further. However, in his first season, he has played very well and can be proud of what he has achieved," said Flick.

It is not surprising that De Jong has started to regularly secure a spot in Flick's starting lineup. The 27-year-old player had previously been sidelined for a long time due to injury. During his recovery period, Barca's defensive midfield position was more frequently filled by Casado. Now fully recovered from his injury, De Jong has successfully maintained his consistency, earning greater trust from Flick.

Realizing his place would be under threat with De Jong's performance, Casado had no choice but to prove himself. This he did when he helped the "Blaugrana" beat Sociedad 4-0 at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium. Casado also contributed a goal in the 29th minute. The other three Barca goals were scored by Gerard Martin, Ronald Araujo, and Robert Lewandowski.

In addition to being his first of the season, Casado's goal was also his first since being promoted to the Barca first team. The competition with De Jong has pushed Casado beyond his limits. Last season, he only recorded two assists and did not score. This time, the need to match De Jong's performance has made Casado do something he has never done before.

"Any player wants to play as much as possible. I spent more time on the bench. I have to accept it and show my ability when the opportunity comes. Frenkie is a great player, we have a good relationship," Casado said.

Despite facing the dilemma of choosing De Jong or Casado, Flick will at least enjoy his troubles. On the contrary, Flick has become the luckiest coach in Spain right now. Casado's motivation is also felt by other Barca players who are trying to gain trust as starters.

The positive early signs of the Barca players' competition can at least be felt. After defeating Sociedad, Barca successfully overthrew Atletico Madrid from the top of the standings. Barca now has 57 points, one point ahead of Atletico and three points ahead of Real Madrid in third place. (REUTERS)