Barcelona Face Defensive Crisis as Jules Koundé Misses Alavés Clash
Barcelona’s defensive problems have deepened ahead of their La Liga meeting with Deportivo Alavés, with Jules Koundé ruled out after failing to recover sufficiently from an ankle sprain. The French defender had been expected to return to training this week, but discomfort during preparations prompted the club to avoid taking a risk.
Hansi Flick must now prepare his side for Saturday’s match at the Spotify Camp Nou with a severely depleted back line. Several defenders are unavailable, leaving the Barcelona coach with limited options and potentially forcing him to reshuffle his formation or turn to a young reserve-team player.
Koundé’s recovery stalls before matchday
According to Mundo Deportivo, there had been optimism earlier in the week that Koundé could be ready to face Alavés. The defender suffered the ankle injury during Barcelona’s match against Real Betis around ten days ago and had missed the team’s subsequent fixtures.
The initial plan was for Koundé to rejoin group training midway through the week. However, the recovery did not progress as hoped. On Wednesday, he reportedly felt discomfort while putting on his boot and trained separately from the rest of the squad. By Thursday, the club had decided he would not be available for the weekend.
Barcelona’s choice reflects the importance of avoiding a setback that could keep the defender out for longer. An ankle sprain can be difficult to manage when a player returns before the joint is ready for the demands of competitive football, particularly for a defender who must accelerate, change direction and challenge opponents at full speed.
Koundé’s absence is not new for Flick. He also missed Barcelona’s recent defeats to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and Real Madrid in La Liga. But with the club already short of defensive cover, the delay to his return leaves the coach facing another significant selection challenge.
Barcelona have few established defenders available
The injury situation is especially difficult because Koundé is not the only defender unavailable. Eric García, Andreas Christensen and Xavi Espart are also out, while Espart is expected to be sidelined for approximately seven weeks. Their combined absence has sharply reduced Flick’s choices across the back line.
For the Alavés fixture, the fit defenders named in the report are João Cancelo, Pau Cubarsí, Gerard Martín and Alejandro Balde. That leaves little room for rotation and may require some players to take on unfamiliar responsibilities. It could also influence how aggressively Barcelona approach the match, as Flick will need to balance the team’s attacking ambitions with the risk of exposing a makeshift defence.
Barcelona’s defensive depth is important not only for this game but for the wider run of the season. A congested schedule can place extra physical demands on players, and relying on a small group of available defenders may increase fatigue. With Koundé’s return uncertain, Flick will need to manage workloads carefully while waiting for injured players to become available again.
Flick weighs positional changes and youth options
One possible solution is to use Bryan Gil at right-back. That would give Barcelona an option on the flank, although it would require a player more familiar with attacking duties to adapt to the defensive demands of the position. Any such change could affect the team’s shape, particularly when Alavés try to exploit space behind the full-backs.
Flick could also consider moving a midfielder into defence. Rodri or Frenkie de Jong have been mentioned as potential emergency options, though deploying either at centre-back appears less likely. A midfield player in that role might help Barcelona build possession from the back, but the adjustment would bring different challenges when defending crosses, tracking forwards and protecting the penalty area.
Another possibility is Álex Campos, an 18-year-old centre-back from Barcelona’s reserve side. He has trained with the first team in recent days and could be considered for the matchday squad. Including a young defender would provide Flick with another specialist option, although whether Campos is ready to feature would depend on the coach’s assessment of the game and the player’s preparation.
For a young footballer, even a place in the squad would represent a valuable opportunity to experience the demands of senior-level competition. At the same time, Barcelona will be mindful that introducing an inexperienced defender in a high-pressure league match requires careful planning and support from more senior teammates.
Alavés match prediction: Barcelona’s defence is the key question
Barcelona will still be expected to approach the Alavés game looking to control possession and create chances, particularly in front of their home supporters. However, the defensive absences make the tactical picture less straightforward. The team may need to keep its full-backs more disciplined or ensure that midfielders provide additional cover when possession is lost.
Any football prediction for this fixture must account for the uncertainty surrounding Barcelona’s back line. The hosts have attacking quality, but a reshuffled defence could give Alavés encouragement to press forward and target spaces created by positional changes. Set pieces and quick transitions may also become especially important, as they can test an improvised defensive unit.
Flick’s immediate priority will be to select a balanced team without increasing the injury risk to Koundé or overloading the remaining defenders. Barcelona’s ability to protect their defensive areas could prove just as important as their attacking play. Until more of the injured players return, the coach may have to rely on tactical flexibility, squad depth and, potentially, emerging talent from the club’s reserve system.
Koundé’s absence is therefore more than a late change to the team sheet. It highlights the strain Barcelona’s defensive injuries are placing on Flick’s plans and raises fresh questions about how the club will manage its back line in the coming matches. The decision not to rush the Frenchman may be frustrating in the short term, but it gives him the best chance of returning without aggravating the ankle problem.
