Barcelona’s 1-2 defeat to Las Palmas highlighted several weaknesses in the team’s performance, with one of the key issues being Hansi Flick’s dependence on Marc Casado.
While Lamine Yamal’s absence has been the main talking point in recent weeks, it became clear during the loss to Las Palmas that the team also missed a reliable defensive pivot—something Casado has increasingly become.
At the start of the season, Casado was seen primarily as an interior midfielder, but over the weeks, he has evolved into a crucial structural figure for the team.
Casado has grown
His role has grown from a support player to a key defensive presence in the midfield. In the first league defeat to Osasuna, Casado was one of the starters who was rested, and his absence was immediately felt.
While he played the full 90 minutes against Real Betis, his efforts could not prevent the Blaugrana from losing, but his character and commitment stood out despite the team’s overall poor performance.
Marc Casado was missed against Las Palmas. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
The most noticeable impact of Casado’s absence came in the final moments of the match against Celta Vigo.
He was sent off for the first time in his Barcelona career after receiving two yellow cards, leaving the team to finish the match without his stabilising influence in midfield.
His influence is visible
When Casado returned alongside Pedri and Dani Olmo against Brest, the team’s performance improved significantly, leading to a dominant 3-0 victory. However, this momentum did not carry over into the Las Palmas game.
In his absence, Gavi stepped in to fill the role. Although Gavi brought energy and determination to the match, he couldn’t replicate the same influence or balance in midfield that Casado typically provides.
Casado brings a combination of physicality, vision with the ball, positional discipline, and exceptional passing quality. His ability to make precise passes and create vertical assists is a key asset for the team.
The lesson from recent games is clear: for Barcelona to succeed, they need Casado to play a central role, and against Mallorca, he, along with his teammates, will be essential to get the team back on track.