Flick has decided on the Barcelona midfield partnership against Villarreal – report

Barcelona, 2025/26 La Liga Matchday 26 – Hansi Flick has settled on his central-midfield pairing for tonight’s Camp Nou meeting with Villarreal, opting for the tandem of Pedri and 17-year-old Marc Bernal in the absence of the injured Frenkie de Jong, according to SPORT.

De Jong’s hamstring setback, confirmed earlier today, forced the German coach to reshuffle a midfield that has lacked fluency during the Dutchman’s previous absences. The solution sees Pedri—who has not started since sustaining a hamstring problem of his own on 21 January against Slavia Prague—thrust straight back into the XI more than a month after his last opening whistle. The Canary Islander returned off the bench in the 65th minute of last weekend’s 3-1 win over Levante and instantly re-established the tempo Barça have sorely missed.

Alongside him, Bernal will continue his rapid ascent. The teenage academy product has started each of the last three league fixtures and marked his growing influence with a goal against Levante. While Marc Casado remains an alternative, club sources indicate Flick views Bernal’s combination of ball-winning and progressive passing as the ideal complement to Pedri’s vision and control.

A victory tonight would extend Barcelona’s cushion at the summit before rivals Real Madrid travel to Getafe on Monday. Kick-off at Spotify Camp Nou is scheduled for 21:00 CET.