The defender of Barcelona, Inigo Martínez, is expected to begin on the bench on the next match against Alaves, despite being completely in shape after recovering from a leg injury, according to brand reports.
It is said that Martínez has returned to full aptitude after a tear in the femoral biceps of his right leg, an injury he suffered during the Spanish Super Cup final on January 12.
Before his injury, Martínez had been a key figure in defense of Barcelona, regularly associating with Pau Cubarsi in the heart of the background.
However, with its return, the competition for a starting point intensifies, since Martínez is now competing with Ronald Araujo for the central defensive position.
What about your game time?
Coach Hansi Flick, known for his cautious approach to reintegrating players returning from an injury, probably relieve Martínez to the initial alignment.
It is common for the film to gradually reintrate to its players after a dismissal of an injury, and as a result, Araujo and Cubarsi are expected to begin against Alaves, and Martínez will probably begin the game in the bank.
Although Eric García is another option for the background, Flick also considers it a potential option for the center of the field, which makes Garcia less likely to appear in defense.
A battle that is worth seeing
The battle between Martínez and Araujo for a starting point will be one of the key stories for Barcelona in the second half of the season.
Before his injury, Martínez had been acting at a high level, after having played in 27 games in all competitions.
While Araujo has proven to be a solid defender for Barcelona, Martínez’s experience and shape before his injury give him an advantage in the competition for the initial role.
As Barcelona continues its campaign, the defensive elections made by the film will be critical to determine the success of the club.
With Martínez’s return and continuous competition for places, it will be interesting to see how the defensive alignment of Barcelona evolves in the coming weeks.