Story byBarcelona may have found surprise solution to Frenkie de Jong’s absenceBarca UniversalSun, March 1, 2026 at 8:40 AM UTC·2 min readThe absence of Frenkie de Jong continues to test Hansi Flick, but Barcelona’s 4-1 victory over Villarreal offered a clear sign that solutions are already inside the squad. Instead of disturbing the entire system, Flick trusted the youth, and the response was encouraging. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFor 67 minutes, Marc Bernal operated as the team’s holding midfielder, the classic ‘6’ role usually occupied by De Jong. And when Bernal left the pitch, Eric Garcia moved into that same position, showing that Flick has two alternatives depending on the game state. Bernal’s task was demanding. He had to connect play between Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez, maintain defensive balance and stop Villarreal’s quick transitions. The teenager handled that responsibility with maturity beyond his age. A great performance under pressureIn just 67 minutes, Bernal recorded 66 interventions. He completed 90% of his passes, most of them short and first-time touches designed to keep the rhythm high and reduce risk. Marc Bernal was fantastic against Villarreal.