Gavi was absent from Barcelona’s El Clasico against Real Madrid for the first time since making his senior debut for the club, with manager Hansi Flick opting not to use him in the match.
The decision marks an unprecedented moment in the 22-year-old’s Barcelona career and underlines the growing challenge he faces to secure a regular place in midfield. Gavi has traditionally been especially influential in high-profile matches, where his competitive character has often stood out.
His absence was particularly notable after he had made his enthusiasm for the fixture clear before kick-off.
“In El Clasico matches, you have to go to war. It does not matter how either team arrives at the match; these are games played to the death,” Gavi said on Saturday.
He was named among the substitutes, which was not considered a major surprise given his limited number of starts this season. However, the fact that Flick did not give him a single minute was the more significant development.
Flick has already discussed Gavi’s situation with him personally, explaining the level of competition for places in midfield. The German manager said in September: “Gavi has a great ambition and always wants to play. He played, then suffered an injury, and after that returned to playing, but the team is doing well in its current state and he has to accept that.”
That message suggested Gavi would need to be patient, but his position now risks becoming even more difficult. Frenkie de Jong has returned to action and resumed playing against Real Madrid, creating further competition in an area where Pedri and Rodri appear to have established themselves as first-choice options.
Fermin and Dani Olmo also provide more attacking alternatives, while Marc Bernal’s characteristics and position mean he can be preferred to Gavi in some situations based on minutes played.
The midfielder could therefore find himself at the bottom of Flick’s rotation options. Despite Barcelona’s limited use of rotation, Gavi has started only two matches and has been given relatively few minutes overall.
That represents a sharp change for a player who has previously made a considerable impact in El Clasico fixtures. Having overcome serious physical problems, Gavi now needs to regain consistency and demonstrate that he can influence matches regularly.
His competitive personality remains one of his main qualities, but he must convince Flick that he merits a place in a midfield where competition is becoming increasingly intense.
Gavi’s contract with Barcelona runs until 2030 and he continues to show complete commitment to the club. His role between now and January will nevertheless be closely watched as Flick decides how to balance his midfield options.
Barcelona’s La Liga schedule lists a match against Deportivo Alaves on 31 October 2026, while Racing Santander are due to face Real Madrid in La Liga on 01 November 2026.
