The start of 2025 has been very positive for Barcelona so far, as the club achieved a top 8 finish in the UCL league stage, entered the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey and won the Super Cup of Spain throughout this month.
Hansi Flick’s men have largely put their disastrous 2024 finish behind them and returned rejuvenated after the Christmas break.
However, an equally key factor behind Barcelona’s success in recent weeks is Gavi’s return to his best and the pivotal role he has played in every match.
Back to the warrior I was
He The Masia Graduado was a regular starter for Barcelona last season, but a premature anterior cruciate ligament injury in November 2023 ruled him out for almost a year.
He returned to the field against Sevilla on October 20, 2024, 355 days after his injury, and the coach made sure to incorporate him progressively to avoid any type of relapse.
In five of his first six games after his return, Gavi played less than ten minutes and the coach slowly helped him regain the confidence and physical preparation to be a key contributor.
Now, however, the player has returned to his best physical level and has started 2025 as the undisputed starter under Hansi Flick, demonstrating his quality not only through his tenacity but also his positional understanding and his comfort on the ball.
The 20-year-old played 45 minutes in Barcelona’s Copa del Rey victory over Barbastro and has started every game since.
He was the protagonist of the team’s victory against Athletic Club in the semifinal of the Spanish Super Cup with a goal and an assist and then played 59 impeccable minutes against Real Madrid in the final.
Gavi also scored in the Copa del Rely clash against Real Betis, marking the first time he has scored two goals in the same month since September 2023.
Looking ahead, it is clear that Flick will give the youngster a good amount of minutes and his position on the field also seems set as attacking midfield.
With Gavi and Dani Olmo to choose from in the department, the coach couldn’t ask for more.