Barcelona is facing a crisis in midfield as they approach the match against Valencia in the fourth round of La Liga, following the continued absence of Gavi due to knee issues and Frenkie de Jong's return from the Netherlands national team with a muscle discomfort. Although De Jong's injury is not serious, his participation is uncertain, prompting coach Hans Flick to consider new alternatives.

The most prominent name to compensate for the absences is Marc Casado, the young midfielder who was close to leaving during the summer transfer window. However, his insistence on staying and Flick's desire to retain all midfield elements in anticipation of such circumstances has given Casado a new opportunity.

Flick has already shown confidence in the player during the second round against Levante, where he gave him a starting chance before substituting him at halftime as Gavi came in to change the course of the match, which ended in favor of Barcelona 3-2. Casado's performance in that match was not bad, although his substitution was for tactical reasons.

Now, Casado returns to the spotlight at an ideal time, especially since he previously took advantage of absences last season to earn a spot in the starting lineup. The player possesses tactical abilities and great discipline in midfield, which could make him a valuable asset for Flick in the upcoming period, especially with the Champions League returning and the pressure of matches increasing.