FC Barcelona took on Athletic Club in La Liga yesterday, securing a 4–0 win. They returned to the Spotify Camp Nou for the first time in 910 days and enthralled the 45,157 or so in attendance with some high-quality football.
Hansi Flick had to go with a heavily rotated XI against the Basque opposition, with many first-choice players out through injury or suspension. This led to experiments such as deploying Gerard Martin as a central defender.
Speaking after the game, Martin shared an emotional anecdote about Camp Nou. As quoted by Mundo Deportivo, he said:
“Before the game, my mother sent me some photos of when I was little, watching a match at the Camp Nou. It’s very emotional to be here.”
Last night was the first outing at the Camp Nou for many of Hansi Flick’s first-teamers. The German manager is working with a relatively young squad, and Martin is one of the players to have debuted under him.
Martin had an excellent showing at centre back. He performed at a very high level, held the offside trap well, and impressed with his passing range. He was not afraid to be drawn into duels and emerged victorious more often than not.
The Spaniard, despite his limitations, is proving to be a useful squad player for Hansi Flick. His versatility, providing cover in two defensive positions, is valuable for Barcelona, and we will have to wait and see how things play out.