Why Pau Cubarsí has been benched for Barcelona vs Espanyol | OneFootball

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has provided an explanation for his decision to leave Pau Cubarsí out of his latest starting XI.

Barcelona are of course currently locked in action, in a La Liga meeting with Catalan rivals Espanyol.

The Blaugrana headed into the matchup in the knowledge that an eventual victory will see them officially crowned Spanish champions for 2024/25.

In turn, it may have come as something of a surprise to see a headline member of the club’s backline condemned to the bench at RCDE Stadium.

Despite Iñigo Martínez’s absence through suspension, the aforementioned Pau Cubarsí was also left out against Espanyol, with Hansi Flick having opted for a central defensive partnership of Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araújo.

Speaking to the media ahead of kick-off on Thursday, it therefore came as little surprise when the subject of Cubarsí’s omission was put to Barca’s headmaster.

And Flick went on to explain:

“I just decided to give him a break, nothing more.”

Conor Laird – GSFN