Barcelona’s 2025/26 campaign has been severely affected by a major setback in defence after the club confirmed in late December 2025 that centre-back Andreas Christensen suffered a partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during training. Under a conservative treatment plan, recovery is expected to take three to four months, effectively ruling him out for much of the season.

Adding to the club’s concern is the fact Christensen’s contract expires in June 2026, creating uncertainty around his future at Camp Nou. His absence further strains a defence already depleted by Ronald Araújo’s ongoing unavailability, leaving manager Hansi Flick with fewer centre-back options and forcing tactical adjustments and squad reassessment.

This data analysis looks at how Barcelona’s defensive profiles can adapt to these challenges, with a focus on Gerard Marín’s use as a left-sided centre-back and the potential redeployment of Eric García into central defence. The piece also considers whether the club will need reinforcements during the January 2026 transfer window to shore up defensive resilience.

The idea of signing a left-footed centre-back in January has become a hot topic as the team navigates its defensive crisis. Sporting director Deco has publicly stated the club does not intend to prioritise defensive signings in January, expressing confidence in the players already available to Hansi Flick. He pointed to existing options — Gerard Marín, Eric García and Pau Cubarsí — as capable of stepping up without immediate recruitment.

The data helps explain why the club might hold that view. Among La Liga centre-backs in 2025/26 by defensive volume, Eric García and Gerard Marín stand out for high rates of successful defensive actions per 90 minutes. García, often deployed in deeper roles this season, has maintained 8.32 successful defensive actions per 90, while Marín — a natural full-back used as a left-sided centre-back — has produced an even higher figure of 8.84 per 90, outperforming many league peers across aggregate defensive metrics.

Their consistency across a meaningful number of minutes underlines their reliability despite positional reshuffling. Still, the combination of injuries and Christensen’s expiring contract presents a difficult choice for Barcelona’s hierarchy: to rely on the current squad or pursue reinforcements in the winter window.