Barcelona star’s remarkable home record puts more eyes on him as he makes Camp Nou debut

Barcelona’s long-awaited return to the iconic Spotify Camp Nou should have been the perfect moment to settle into a rhythm before the international break chaos resumes. 

Instead, Hansi Flick finds himself dealing with one of the most delicate midfield situations he has faced since the season began. 

The emotional evening at Camp Nou now arrives with a small crisis brewing in the centre of the pitch, forcing the manager to reshuffle pieces he probably did not expect to touch.

Frenkie de Jong, who has been a pillar of the double pivot, will not be available after receiving a double yellow against Celta Vigo. 

His absence alone would have been difficult to manage, but it comes at the exact moment when Pedri is still not physically ready to return. 

The midfielder’s recovery is progressing, yet Barcelona’s medical staff are not willing to take risks, especially with so many decisive fixtures ahead.

Olmo’s time to take over

With two key players sidelined, Flick’s options narrow dramatically. The squad sheet points towards only two natural midfield candidates who can step straight into the starting XI, namely Marc Casado and Fermin Lopez. 

This shortage also opens the door for Dani Olmo to step onto the Camp Nou pitch in Barcelona colours for the first time, a moment that carries enormous emotional significance for the Catalan international.

Olmo arrives in exceptional form, having found the back of the net for Spain against Turkey during the break. 

His history with Barcelona also shows a knack for impactful debuts. He scored on his first appearance at Montjuic against Valladolid, and in his maiden outing at the Johan Cruyff Stadium against Valencia, he produced an assist. 

These moments underline a pattern that Olmo thrives when he is introduced to a new stage.

In fact, since returning to Barça, he has managed eight goals and six assists across just 22 home games played between Montjuïc and the Johan Cruyff Stadium. 

When measured by minutes, those contributions become even more impressive – 1,159 minutes and a goal involvement every 82 minutes. 

Given the circumstances, the pathway is clear. With both Pedri and De Jong unavailable, Olmo is expected to slot into the double pivot, paired with Casado. 

Flick has already used him in this role once, and all indications suggest the manager will repeat that solution against Athletic Club.