Barcelona midfielder tipped to start Copa del Rey clash against Albacete

According to a report from SPORT, Barcelona’s upcoming Copa del Rey clash against Albacete could once again underline the growing importance of Marc Bernal under Hansi Flick.

The report suggests that after another composed and convincing display against Elche in La Liga, the Copa del Rey fixture is shaping up to be another opportunity for Bernal to gain minutes and continue his steady development. 

Rather than rotating for the sake of it, Flick appears keen to use the competition as a platform for the midfielder to build rhythm and confidence.

Bernal’s hunting ground

Bernal’s role in the Copa del Rey so far has been anything but minor, having already started the previous two matches in the competition, featuring against Guadalajara and Racing.

As such, all signs point towards him keeping his place in the starting line-up for the Albacete tie. 

Crucially, the decision to start Bernal should not be seen as a concession or a low-risk experiment, as his performance against Elche served as a clear example of his growing influence.

Bernal is likely to start against Albacete. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

From a tactical point of view, Bernal completed 15 of his 16 attempted passes, recording an impressive 94% success rate. 

By comparison, Frenkie de Jong finished the match with a 91.2% pass accuracy after playing 60 passes. 

While numbers never tell the full story, they highlight Bernal’s calm use of the ball.

Gaining the lost rhythm

More importantly, he provided control, having helped slow the tempo, which allowed Barcelona to manage a match that proved harder to finish than expected, despite numerous chances and three efforts hitting the woodwork. 

His ability to dictate pace gave the team balance and structure when it mattered most.

With Flick already trusting him for 45 minutes against Guadalajara and 58 minutes against Racing, it feels logical that Bernal will once again be handed a starting role against Albacete.