Barcelona fan-favourite in line for his first start in 11 months against Espanyol

Barcelona are poised to reintroduce one of their most dynamic midfielders to the starting lineup, with Gavi expected to make his first start in nearly a year when the Blaugrana host city rivals Espanyol on Wednesday night. According to SPORT, an injury-ravaged midfield has left head coach Hansi Flick with limited options, clearing the path for the 20-year-old to reclaim a place from the opening whistle.

The timing is far from ideal for the Catalan giants. Pedri limped off with a hamstring complaint in last weekend’s meeting with Atlético Madrid and has been ruled out of the derby, while teenage anchor Marc Bernal remains unavailable. Although Frenkie de Jong has rejoined first-team training after his own lay-off, club staff are reluctant to risk the Dutchman from the start, placing the emphasis on squad depth.

Enter Gavi, whose last start dates back to 25 May 2025, when Barcelona wrapped up their La Liga schedule with a 3-0 victory over Athletic Club. A serious subsequent injury sidelined the Spanish international for the best part of 11 months, but he signalled his return in midweek by replacing Pedri in the Champions League quarter-final against Atlético and immediately adding bite to the midfield.

With fixtures arriving thick and fast, Flick is expected to rotate his personnel. That policy should see Gavi paired alongside Marc Casadó, another academy graduate who has spent much of the campaign on the margins yet now finds himself entrusted with a pivotal role in one of the season’s most emotionally charged fixtures.

For supporters, the prospect of seeing Gavi back in the XI is a welcome lift at a critical juncture, offering both a short-term solution to an injury crisis and a longer-term reminder of the tenacity that made him a Camp Nou favourite.