{"id":1499661,"date":"2026-10-04T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=features&#038;p=1499661"},"modified":"2026-10-04T11:02:24","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T10:02:24","slug":"xavi-espart-alejandro-balde-barcelona-la-liga","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/xavi-espart-alejandro-balde-barcelona-la-liga\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Hansi Flick is choosing Xavi Espart over Alejandro Balde at Barcelona"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Seven games into the season, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/clubs\/barcelona\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Barcelona<\/a> are running away with La Liga.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/hansi-flick\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hansi Flick<\/a>\u2019s side are the only team to boast a 100% start, sweeping aside all those before them. The Blaugrana have scored 31 goals and conceded just seven in a fine start to the 2026\/27 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Raphinha is the driving force for the Spanish giants. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/lamine-yamal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lamine Yamal<\/a> and summer signing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/anthony-gordon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Anthony Gordon<\/a> have also played their part for Flick\u2019s men. What\u2019s stood out, though, is that Barcelona\u2019s flying start to the domestic campaign has come with a change in the full-back pairing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>In this article, we&#8217;ll cover:<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-why-espart-has-leapfrogged-balde\" data-level=\"3\">Why Espart has leapfrogged Balde<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-barcelona-missing-balde-s-attacking-influence\" data-level=\"3\">Barcelona missing Balde&#8217;s attacking influence?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-a-more-resolute-blaugrana\" data-level=\"3\">A more resolute Blaugrana<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Last season, Jules Kounde and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/alejandro-balde\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Alejandro Balde<\/a> were Flick\u2019s go-to duo at right and left-back, respectively. This season, the pair have accumulated just 183 minutes of league action between them. Balde has played just 12 minutes in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/clubs\/spain\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Spain<\/a>\u2019s top tier this term. While previously a first-team regular, the Spaniard is struggling for game time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, he\u2019s been leapfrogged in the Barcelona pecking order by teenager <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/xavi-espart\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Xavi Espart<\/a>. Granted, the Spaniard was dropped for Joao Cancelo for wins over Racing Santander and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/clubs\/sevilla\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sevilla<\/a> prior to the international break. However, that was a decision by Flick to manage Espart\u2019s minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-why-espart-has-leapfrogged-balde\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Espart has leapfrogged Balde<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Having struggled with a knee injury last season, Barcelona are keen to avoid a repeat this time around. Indeed, Espart was restricted to just four league outings, and one start, in the 2025\/26 La Liga campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This time around, Espart has jumped ahead of compatriot Balde in the pecking order. And Barcelona are all the better for the former\u2019s rise to first-team regular. While the 2026\/27 season is in its infancy, Barca have enjoyed the lion share of the ball in the opening weeks. A 68.7% possession haul is the best in La Liga and ranks second in Europe\u2019s top five leagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A midfielder by trade, Espart is able to invert into midfield with ease. It means that he can slip into a double-pivot to help provide greater protection to the centre-backs if required. As such, Barcelona enjoy greater superiority in a key position. What\u2019s been vital, though, is that his tidiness in possession means they haven\u2019t been caught short at the back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Espart is being dispossessed just 0.2 times per 90 in La Liga this season. The teenager is incredibly press resistant, largely due to his midfield heritage. What this does mean, though, is that Barcelona lacks a key attacking outlet without Balde.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-barcelona-missing-balde-s-attacking-influence\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Barcelona missing Balde&#8217;s attacking influence?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 22-year-old\u2019s approach is significantly different to Espart, in that he favours to burn down the flank, maximising his pace to both provide an additional wide option and recover defensively when he does get caught out of position. As such, it\u2019s no surprise that Balde was dispossessed more times per 90 last season (0.9) than Espart is in 2026\/27.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In turn, however, Balde provided the width that opened up space to hurt teams. He created 1.1 chances per 90 in La Liga last season. Espart is creating 0.8 per 90 in Spain\u2019s top tier this term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Conversely, while Flick has taken a potential offensive option out of the side, in bringing Espart into the XI, he\u2019s made Barcelona a trickier team to break down. One of the key criticisms aimed at Flick has been the implementation of the high defensive line. It leaves Barcelona at risk of being caught out from quick transitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/10\/03154602\/player_pitch-5-stat-1-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Xavi Espart&apos;s 2026\/27 La Liga stats\" class=\"wp-image-1499663\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/10\/03154602\/player_pitch-5-stat-1-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/10\/03154602\/player_pitch-5-stat-1-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/10\/03154602\/player_pitch-5-stat-1-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/10\/03154602\/player_pitch-5-stat-1-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/10\/03154602\/player_pitch-5-stat-1-214x267.jpg 214w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/10\/03154602\/player_pitch-5-stat-1-160x200.jpg 160w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/10\/03154602\/player_pitch-5-stat-1-48x60.jpg 48w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/10\/03154602\/player_pitch-5-stat-1-120x150.jpg 120w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/10\/03154602\/player_pitch-5-stat-1-59x74.jpg 59w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/10\/03154602\/player_pitch-5-stat-1.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As effective as Balde was going forward, there were times where his lack of defensive awareness meant Barcelona were overrun by opponents. With Espart, this isn\u2019t the case. The versatile teen ranks fifth for total tackles (20) in La Liga this season. By comparison, Balde managed just 35 tackles across 28 league outings last season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-a-more-resolute-blaugrana\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">A more resolute Blaugrana<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What that means is that Barcelona are more solid at the back. The number of shots conceded per game has dropped from 9.1 to 7.3. Granted, it\u2019s from a significantly smaller sample size, but a positive step nonetheless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The signing of 2026 World Cup Golden Ball winner Rodri has also contributed towards a more resolute Barcelona. Even so, Espart has played an unheralded role in Bacelona\u2019s flying start to the season. His deployment grants the attacking players greater freedom to hurt opponents, and Raphinha, Gordon and Yamal have capitalised superbly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While it\u2019s resulted in a change to the way Barcelona operate, the squad have adjusted seamlessly to Flick\u2019s tactical alteration. The forward players are receiving their flowers for their fine final third showings. It\u2019s high time Espart, among others, earn praise for their respective roles in Barcelona 100% record to kick off the campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3><strong>Read more:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/\"><strong>Latest football news<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Football betting tips<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Best betting sites<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/best-free-bet-offers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Best free bet offers<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/accumulator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Football accumulator tips<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Seven games into the season, and Barcelona are running away with La Liga. Hansi Flick\u2019s side are the only team to boast a 100% start, sweeping aside all those before them. The Blaugrana have scored 31 goals and conceded just seven in a fine start to the 2026\/27 campaign. Raphinha is the driving force for&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3564,"featured_media":1499662,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"Barcelona","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Why Hansi Flick is choosing Xavi Espart over Alejandro Balde and how the Barcelona teenager has helped strengthen the team\u2019s defence.","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"features-category":[],"squawka-category":[27675,27672],"class_list":["post-1499661","features","type-features","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","squawka-category-international","squawka-category-player-analysis"],"acf":{"external_featured_image_url":"","hide_featured_image_pattern":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.0 (Yoast SEO v28.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Why Hansi Flick is choosing Xavi Espart over Alejandro Balde at Barcelona | Squawka | EN<\/title>\n<meta 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