Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado has become an essential figure for Hansi Flick’s side, especially following Marc Bernal’s unfortunate injury that has ruled him out for the season.
In fact, he has stepped up admirably, proving his value to the team by providing two assists in his last two matches. Interestingly, this is the same number of assists he contributed throughout the entire previous season with La Masia.
One of these assists came in the recent defeat against AS Monaco, where Casado set up Lamine Yamal’s equaliser.
There is more to Casado’s performance
It must be noted that beyond his attacking contributions, Casado’s defensive work was equally impressive. He won six defensive duels during the match against Monaco, more than any other player on the pitch.
What’s even more remarkable is that five of these duels were won in the second half when Monaco were pushing for victory. In those high-pressure moments, Casado’s ability to remain composed stood out.
Casado’s role in containing their attack was crucial against the Ligue 1 side, who played with an extra man for a large part of the game. Out of the 25 passes he attempted after the break, he only misplaced three.
Overall, he completed 55 passes during the match, achieving an impressive 88% accuracy. Casado also showed his attacking intent by attempting seven passes into the final third, which is the most of any Barcelona player on the day.
Among Barcelona’s young talents aged 21 or under, players like Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, and Alejandro Balde have featured more regularly than Casado. This makes sense, as they have been part of the first team for longer.
It is no secret that Flick sees something special in Casado, recognising him as a diamond in the rough. As Barcelona continue to search for a new midfield leader following the departure of club legend Sergio Busquets, the emergence of Casado is a positive sign for the club’s future.
