In the 12th round of La Liga, Barça suffered a setback after losing 0-1 to Real Sociedad. The match was marked by controversy, not only because of the adverse result, but also because of a refereeing decision that left doubts.
A goal by Robert Lewandowski that could have changed the course of the match was ruled out for an offside that many consider non-existent.
The Absence of Barça's Jewel
One of the big headlines before the match was the absence of Lamine Yama, one of the club's brightest prospects.
His absence was a blow to Barça's offense. The biggest controversy of the match, however, arose from an incident with Robert Lewandowski. The Polish striker had a goal ruled out for being offside, a move that fueled the refereeing debate.
Barcelona was unable to recover from this and ended up losing 0-1. However, beyond the result, what worried many was the team's overall performance and the way Flick was handling the injuries.
Frenkie de Jong, who was coming off a long injury, once again showed signs of discomfort in his ankle. His participation in the match was limited. He was again seen leaving early, which raises questions about his physical condition and his future at the club.
Frenkie de Jong: A Complicated Return
Frenkie de Jong is not having an easy season. After starting the campaign on the sidelines due to ankle problems, the Dutch midfielder has had several ups and downs in his performance.
Although he showed glimpses of quality in the first few games, his participation has been increasingly limited. After his debut in the Champions League, De Jong played 9 minutes against Alavés and didn't play against Sevilla.
The situation didn't improve in the matches against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, where his playing time was short. Still, he was able to contribute something to the team. However, his most significant participation was in the victory against Espanyol, although again his performance was affected by physical discomfort.
After starting the match against Real Sociedad, De Jong again suffered a problem with his ankle, which led to Flick replacing him at half-time.