Hansi Flick explains Gavi’s Barcelona absence vs Benfica | OneFootball

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has provided an explanation for the reasoning behind Gavi’s absence from the club’s latest matchday squad.

Barca are of course primed to return to action in short order.

Turning attentions back towards matters on the continent, the Blaugrana have made the trip to Portugal, for a Champions League Last-16 showdown with Benfica.

The aforementioned Gavi, for his part, though, will play no part in Lisbon.

The midfielder was included in the travelling Barcelona party which made the trip to Portugal on Tuesday, giving rise to hope that he had been cleared for a return to competitive action.

Gavi was forced to sit out against Real Sociedad over the weekend, owing to a bout of illness.

After the 20-year-old was omitted from his matchday squad to face Benfica on Wednesday, the subject of Gavi’s wellbeing was in turn put to Hansi Flick once more.

And the German tactician went on to explain:

“Gavi is not yet at 100%.”

Conor Laird – GSFN