Barcelona’s recent 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid was painful, but Gavi was one of the few bright spots.
The young midfielder played a titanic 64 minutes, showcasing his eagerness to adapt to Hansi Flick’s tactical scheme. Despite not playing in his most natural position, Gavi’s performance was a reminder of what he is capable of, reports Diario SPORT.
Gavi: Finally ready under Hansi Flick?
Gavi has been tested in multiple roles this season by Flick, including central midfield, a more traditional midfield role, and as an attacking midfielder.
His latest outing saw him replacing Dani Olmo, functioning almost as an additional striker. This wasn’t his first venture into such a position; he had a brief cameo against Leganés in a similar role.
Against Atletico, Gavi’s involvement was total, pressing from the front, and his effort was palpable throughout his time on the field.
His performance was not just about effort; Gavi was directly involved in the build-up to Pedri’s goal, showing his ability to make crucial plays under pressure.
Gavi stepped up to the plate against Atletico Madrid (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
His aerial prowess was also on display with a powerful header that narrowly missed the target.
Flick, visibly impressed, highlighted Gavi’s significant step towards fitting into Barcelona’s evolving play style without being specifically prompted about him.
Gavi’s versatility was further underlined by his past performances, notably in the 2023 Super Cup where he not only scored but also assisted in a 3-1 victory.
With Lamine Yamal sidelined, Gavi could potentially fill in as a false left winger alongside Olmo and Raphinha, with Lewandowski up top.
His recovery from a severe knee injury has evidently been successful. Now, the objective will be to utilise Gavi’s record to help Barcelona bring back from their worst La Liga run in 16 years.