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After picking up an injury, Alejandro Balde has set himself the challenge of recovering in time for the 1st leg of the semi-finals against Inter. It is a difficult objective, but not impossible. If it happens, it will be a huge boost to Hansi Flick’s side as Balde has been a big part of Barcelona’s success this season.
Balde’s significance in Hansi Flick’s Barca
Since his debut, Alejandro Balde has displayed immense potential and promise to be Barca’s main left-back for the present and the future. Injuries had left some fans in doubt about whether the youngster is good enough, but Balde has cemented his position in the starting lineup under Hansi Flick. He has regained the confidence of fans and is in the best form of his season. Raphinha doesn’t play as a traditional winger on the left but rather as an inside forward. This means that Balde alone is responsible for the attack and defense on the left flank. So far this season, Balde has passed this test with flying colours.
Temporary alternatives in Balde’s absence
Gerard Martin
The most obvious player to occupy the left-back position after Balde seems to be Gerard Martin, a La Masia alumni who already has considerable first-team experience. Hansi Flick is trusting the -year-old in Balde’s absence. Gerard Martin is not as good as his teammate Balde when it comes to going forward and contributing to the attack. However, Martin does have a slight edge over Balde when it comes to defensive abilities.
Hector Fort
Hector Fort might be another option to add depth to the left-back position, although his best position is as a right-back. Unluckily for him, arguably the best right-back in the world Kounde, plays there, which doesn’t allow him to experience a lot of game time. Against Mallorca he played a really good game as a left-back, combining well with Ansu Fati and Pedri. As you can see in the video there is a fair case to be made about whether Hector Fort should be the starting left-back ahead of Gerard Martin.
New La Masia Gem
According to several reports, Hansi Flick is seriously considering calling up Barca Atletic player Joffre Torrents. The 18-year-old was already making headlines with his performances. However, with the event of Balde’s injury he can be a good option to add quality depth to the squad. Jofre is a player with good link-up play and very mature on the ball as you can see in the video. Although not as good as Balde he can still dribble past players to create chances. However, he is probably more solid defensively than Balde is, with a strong presence around his box to challenge opposition attackers.