Braian Farinha: Long wait and reward from Flick

Braian Farinas, the young talent of FC Barcelona, has successfully taken advantage of the opportunity he has long awaited, transitioning from a player waiting for his first appearance with the first team to a key figure in coach Hans Flick's lineup, who has given him the chance to start in two consecutive matches against Alavés and Aston Villa.

The 20-year-old player made his first appearance for the first team against Alavés in LaLiga, before getting another chance against Aston Villa in the UEFA Champions League, playing his first match in the continental competition just three days after his debut in LaLiga.

Flick's confidence comes amid defensive absences for FC Barcelona, as Xavi Espart, Eric Garcia, Jules Koundé, and Andreas Christensen remain sidelined due to injury. This has led the German coach to rely on Farinas in the right-back position, despite his primary formation in the La Masia academy being as a midfielder.

Farinas previously played as a right-back during the pre-season for the current season, as well as with FC Barcelona Atletic, which made his deployment in this position an available option for Flick, who has been following his development over the past months and is convinced of his ability to contribute to the first team.

The praise for the player's performance was not limited to his ability to occupy the full-back position, as there was a clear understanding between him and Lamine Yamal, having previously played together in the club's youth teams. Farinas knows when to advance to support the young winger and when to move into the center to provide an additional passing option and assist him in executing his attacking movements.

The player showcased his defensive abilities during the match against Aston Villa, successfully stopping Nicolas Jackson in one of the individual duels, confirming his capability to handle defensive responsibilities and protect the right flank, rather than just providing attacking support.

Farinhas was close to leaving FC Barcelona last summer for Girona, but Flick intervened to stop the deal after seeing that the player had the potential to earn a chance with the first team. The player joined the La Masia academy in 2018 coming from the youth ranks of Villarreal, before this season receiving the number 4 in the first team squad.

After a long period without playing despite being called up to the squad on 10 occasions, Farinas is finally starting to reap the rewards of his patience and hard work. He proved against Alavés and Aston Villa that he can be an additional option for Flick at right-back, while awaiting the return of injured players and the competition for his position, with the possibility of getting another chance against Atlético.