Problems On The Near Horizon For Flick’s FC Barcelona

Problems could be on the horizon for FC Barcelona and its head coach Hansi Flick, as they collectively suffered their first defeat of the season away at AS Monaco on Thursday in the Champions Leauge.

Post match, Flick was made to answer whether the 2-1 loss which destroyed a perfect record thus far this season was the campaign's "worst game".

"When you have five wins and you lose, you can say that it is the worst - yes. We didn't start badly. In some phases we weren't good in the combinations, but I insist that I have seen positive things and now we have to focus on La Liga," Flick insisted.

Barca's next fixture in the league is an away trip to Villarreal, which is essentially a battle between first and fourth place at the top of the table.

Worryingly, though, the Catalans will have less than 72 hours to recover until another game on the road in El Madrigal and will take to the pitch without eight key players to choose from.

Namely Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Ronald Araujo, Fermin, Andreas Christensen, Dani Olmo and Marc Bernal are all injured, while Ferran Torres is suspended.

Flick might have to repeat his first XI in Monaco man for man, which would entail a back four and a double pivot of Marc Casado, plus a sent off Eric Garcia, behind attacking midfielder Pedri.

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The number 8 would be flanked by wingers Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, while Robert Lewandowski is the lone striker.

Though Flick said that Casado isn't injured, there were worrying scenes at full time in the Stade Louis II as he took to the turf and had to be attended to by Barca's medical staff.

The German also indicated that his star 17-year-olds Pau Cubarsi and goalscorer Lamine could be rested this weekend, which is a nice idea in theory but hard to put into practice when there is a shortage of manpower and a need to keep a four-point advantage over arch nemesis Real Madrid.

A wild card could be Ansu Fati, who has finally returned to action from a foot knock and could earn more minutes after a short cameo on the continent last night.