Hansi Flick opted for a strong starting XI against Espanyol in the Barcelona derby at Montjuic, with the only rotation being his decision to rest Jules Kounde and grant a rare start to La Masia graduate Hector Fort.
Fort has been in and around the first-team setup for some time now. Brought into the mix by Xavi Hernandez last season, the La Masia youngster was rarely deployed at right-back, instead serving primarily as a left-back rotation option for Alejandro Balde and then Joao Cancelo.
So far this season, appearances under Hansi Flick have been few and far but they have almost always been on his preferred right side. Making just his second start of the season, Fort looked at home against Espanyol and stats suggest the same.
As per stats from Sofa Score, Fort put in a solid display at right-back with more influence going forward. He played 78 minutes on the night, recording 68 touches of the ball and completing 47 of 52 attempted passes with a 90% accuracy.
Fort created one big chance, contributed two key passes, and completed two of three attempted crosses, one of which found Dani Olmo early on, though the Spanish midfielder headed it over the bar. Fort looked solid going forward and used his recovery pace to help out in defense.
Defensively, he recorded two clearances, and one interception, and won one of four aerial duels, only being dribbled past once in the entire game. While he wasn’t frequently tested defensively, he handled the challenges that came his way effectively.
One thing you can say with absolute confidence about Hector Fort in his limited opportunities with the first team is that whenever given an opportunity, he has never disappointed. Put him on the left or the right and he always delivers.
What Fort has successfully done with his performance against Espanyol is giving Flick the confidence that he can call upon the Barcelona academy graduate when Jules Kounde needs a rest. The youngster has made a case to start more frequently going forward and let’s wait and see how it goes.
