Barcelona dropped two valuable points in a disappointing 2-2 draw against Celta Vigo at the Balaídos stadium on Saturday evening.
The Catalans led 2-0, but a series of defensive errors and interruptions in the rhythm of play allowed the opponents to equalize.
According to information from the Spanish newspaper “El Nacional”, among the many conclusions drawn from the match, Gerard Martin’s performance was one of the most discussed topics, but it was not a positive one at all.
With Alejandro Balde absent due to physical problems, Hansi Flick decided to give the young academy player a chance to play at left-back. However, Gerard Martin did not live up to expectations and was unable to handle an opponent who exploited every weakness in his performance. Just three minutes into the match, Martin made a serious mistake that cost him an early yellow card, further complicating his situation in the match.
From that moment on, Celta Vigo, led by Iago Aspas, found a “gold mine” on the left side of Barcelona’s defence and exploited this gap relentlessly
Martin was extremely fatigued throughout the match, and he accumulated mistakes that would have cost the team dearly had the referee not intervened in some situations.
The referee also overlooked giving Martin a second yellow card after a violent tackle that could have sent the player off, leaving Barcelona with ten men before the break. In addition, there was a potential penalty awarded against Barcelona after Iago Aspas was tripped inside the penalty area, which made Gerard Martin’s performance look even worse.
Aware of the situation, Hansi Flick did not wait long and decided to replace Martin at half-time, bringing on Hector Fort in an attempt to secure the defence. This change was necessary and reflects the German coach’s lack of confidence in the young full-back’s ability to shoulder the responsibility of playing in the first team at the moment.
Gerard Martin’s situation poses a challenge for the club. An academy graduate, he is a symbol of Barcelona’s philosophy of relying on young players, but his performances in tough matches, such as the one against Celta Vigo, raise questions about his future in the first team. With the winter transfer window approaching, it is not unlikely that Barcelona will seek to strengthen the left-back position, especially if Balde continues to suffer from his physical problems.
Hansi Flick has clearly drawn a line: at Barcelona, there is no place for players who do not live up to expectations. At the moment, Gerard Martin seems far from meeting those expectations.