Barcelona injury crisis hands out-of-favour star a potential lifeline to save his career

Barcelona injury crisis hands out-of-favour star a potential lifeline to save his career Barcelona’s defensive injury crisis has left Hansi Flick with some difficult decisions ahead of the upcoming fixtures. However, while the manager continues to navigate a shortage of fully fit defenders, one player has received an opportunity that could make or break his career at the club. Alejandro Balde could be in line to feature for Barça against Deportivo Alaves, potentially starting for the first time this season. Having spent much of his time on the sidelines, the 23-year-old finally has a chance to convince Flick that he deserves an important role in his plans. From undisputed starter to forgotten option Balde’s decline in importance has been particularly surprising considering his standing within the squad not long ago. During the 2025/26 campaign, the La Masia graduate made 42 appearances, including 31 starts. However, Flick’s preference for other options this season has completely changed his situation at the club. The German manager even left Balde out of the squad for Barcelona’s season opener against Elche, suggesting that the defender was not fully prepared and needed to clear his mind. Since then, opportunities have been extremely limited. Before Sunday’s Clasico , Balde had played just 12 minutes against Racing Santander and another 16 against PSG. Balde’s prominence has faded drastically this season. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images) He has been an unused substitute in seven league matches this season. His last competitive start came against Valencia on May 23, more than five months ago. Despite interest from Manchester United during the summer, Balde chose to stay, determined to prove himself at Barcelona. Defensive injuries open an unexpected door The situation has now changed dramatically following injuries to Xavi Espart, Eric Garcia, Andreas Christensen and Jules Kounde. Espart faces approximately seven weeks out after suffering an ankle injury against Real Madrid, while Kounde has also been ruled out of the Alaves encounter. Balde replaced Espart during the Clasico and played around 60 minutes, marking his first substantial involvement of the season. With Joao Cancelo potentially needed to fill in at right-back, Balde could occupy his natural position on the left against Alaves. Beyond that, Barcelona face Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid before the international break. These matches could provide an opportunity for Balde to rebuild his confidence. Balde must prove he offers something Barcelona are missing Balde’s biggest advantage has always been his explosive acceleration and ability to progress the ball down the left flank. At his best, he gives Barça width, carries possession into dangerous areas and forces opposing defenders into a dilemma. Those qualities could be very valuable to Barcelona, especially by allowing someone like Anthony Gordon to cut inside and influence the game. Last chance salon for Balde? (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) However, simply making attacking runs will not be enough. Flick’s system demands full-backs who understand when to move forward and press, and when to stay back. Balde should improve his positional discipline, make better decisions in possession and showcase greater consistency defensively. There is also an important opportunity for Barcelona themselves. Rather than relying entirely on makeshift defensive solutions, Flick could rediscover a talented academy graduate who can offer something different. Expecting Balde to look extraordinary immediately would be unfair. He needs time and confidence to rediscover his best level as confirmed by Flick himself during his press conference earlier today . The coming fixtures may not determine his entire future, but they could significantly influence his position heading into January. For a player whose Barcelona career once seemed destined for long-term success, this unexpected opening represents a lifeline he cannot afford to waste. With talks of a potential January exit doing the rounds, the upcoming games could be Balde’s last opportunity to save his Barcelona career.