GIRONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 15: Dani Olmo of FC Barcelona celebrates victory in the LaLiga match between Girona FC and FC Barcelona at Montilivi Stadium on September 15, 2024 in Girona, Spain.

How Barcelona plans to use Dani Olmo against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid

Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images

Injuries have played a big role in deciding how FC Barcelona will manage their games this season. Even after the arrival of Hansi Flick, a man who has a special dedication towards making sure his players are physically durable, the injury concerns have continued. Fortunately for the new Barcelona coach, some key players are set to return soon.

Following the international break, it is expected that Barcelona could end up recovering three of their most talented midfielders. Gavi, after having been sidelined for close to a year, is expected to make his return alongside the dynamic talents of Fermin Lopez as well as Dani Olmo, Barça’s blockbuster summer signing.

In the case of Olmo, the club already seems to have a plan in mind as well in terms of how to manage his minutes. Given how crucial he has been to the team ever since his arrival, it would only make sense that Barcelona and Hansi Flick are attentive to the player’s needs and how to best utilize him.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the primary focus following his return would be to manage his minutes gradually rather than to thrust him right into games as a starter. Initially, they hope to ideally get him to play around 30 minutes against Sevilla, after which they will make some key decisions against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

When it comes to the game against Bayern, one that will be scheduled to take place at the Montjuic Stadium, Hansi Flick and his team know the importance of that game in terms of the bigger impact that it can have in the UEFA Champions League. For that reason, Olmo would likely get to play 45 minutes in that crucial game if everything goes to plan.

Right afterwards, however, Barcelona will travel to the Santiago Bernabeu to take on Real Madrid in La Liga. While that would not be a season-defining game, it is always important to get a good result in any El Clasico. For that particular game, moreover, there is hope that Olmo can get to play as a starter.

However, it would be unlikely to see him play the entirety of the 90 minutes at the Bernabeu. Instead, Hansi Flick will likely make use of him for close to 60 minutes before possibly giving him some rest. After all, this would still be just the third game that he would be a part of following his return from his muscular injury that kept him sidelined for around a month.

Tags Barcelona vs Bayern Barcelona vs Real Madrid Dani Olmo Dani Olmo return