It has not been the easiest start to the season for Barcelona, and their difficulties have manifested themselves in defensive issues that have plagued them all season. Increasingly it seems more teams than not have found ways to breach their high offside line, leaving the backline exposed.

It leaves the question open as to who should be starting for Hansi Flick’s side. As with any football issue, any card-carrying supporter who owns FC Barcelona Fan Tokens will have an opinion on the matter, and as both Flick and his defenders have pointed out, the defensive issues are not purely down to their back four.

Perhaps the easiest choice is at left-back. While Alejandro Balde has been a long way from his galloping best, he still looks a much more assured choice than Gerard Martin. The latter had a strong second leg against Inter in the Champions League semi-final last year, providing two assists, but is often targeted defensively. Balde on the other hand has his drawbacks, but his positives far outweigh them.

On the other side of the defence, Jules Kounde was at one point, the most obvious starter in the backline. The Frenchman’s attributes, and ability to remain more conservative on the right, while providing an attacking threat, suit Barcelona perfectly. Yet of late, his form has dropped off, and Kounde struggled again during El Clasico against Vinicius Junior.

Although Ronald Araujo has been used there before, his right-back days seem some way behind him. The other alternative is Eric Garcia- Barcelona’s best defender this season. Garcia has demonstrated timing, intelligence and anticipation during the opening stages of the year, but has been deployed as a central defender rather than a right-back.  Given Kounde’s form though, and Garcia’s performances there at the end of the last season, the latter could usurp Kounde.

If Flick were to use Garcia at right-back, it would remove him from a partnership with Pau Cubarsi that has been both Barcelona’s most used pairing, and their most successful. Andreas Christensen’s fitness remains a major issue, and at this point, Barcelona can ill-afford to rely on him. It leaves Araujo as the other potential candidate for central defence.

The Uruguayan has struggled to adapt to Flick’s offside line, and cost Barcelona goals of late, with uncharacteristic errors. Yet in theory, he does provide the physical attributes to play alongside Cubarsi. Given the options available, it seems Flick must choose between where he wants to position Eric Garcia, and one of Araujo or Kounde.