Flick Turns to La Masia: Campos, Tunkara and Guillem Victor Called Up Amid Barca's Injury Crisis

When a team is missing pieces, there are two paths: dwell on it, or open the locker room door to the kids from home. Hansi Flick has chosen the second option, and he didn't hesitate. In Thursday's training session, the German coach called up three young players from La Masia to round out the squad for Saturday's match against Alaves: Alex Campos, Ebrima Tunkara and Guillem Victor.

The decision isn't a whim. Barcelona is dealing with six absences, and Kounde is all but ruled out for the clash with the Vitoria side. Also on the sidelines are Christensen, Eric Garcia, Dani Olmo, Xavi Espart and Roony Bardghji, all unavailable for the upcoming matches. With that outlook, Flick needs the academy players to keep logging training minutes in case they're needed to step up sooner than expected.

Alex Campos, a regular who already knows the routine

Campos's presence surprises no one at the Ciutat Esportiva. The Barca Atletic center back, just 18 years old and entirely homegrown at La Masia, had already been included in Flick's squads for the trip to Paris and for El Clasico in LaLiga. He's known for his clean ball-playing out of the back and his strength in the air, qualities that have made him a key piece for the reserve side coached by Juliano Belletti.

Tunkara, the prospect returning in strong form

Another regular in these emergency call-ups is Ebrima Tunkara. The 16-year-old was already in Wednesday's session and shared the squad's lunch at the Ciutat Esportiva following the team's two straight losses. He's considered the academy's brightest jewel and already showed flashes with the first team during preseason, before an ankle injury in a friendly with Atletic sidelined him for a month and a half.

His versatility, able to play both in midfield and up front, fits neatly into the gap left by Dani Olmo's absence. Could this finally be the moment he makes his official debut? The circumstances, at least, are starting to align.

Guillem Victor, the day's big surprise

If there's one name that stands out on Thursday's list, it's Guillem Victor, brother of Pau Victor, the former Barca player now with Sporting Braga. The absences of Eric Garcia, Xavi Espart and Kounde have opened a crack at right back, giving Guillem a real shot at making the squad for the Alaves match.

Three names, three different stories, but one same message: at Barca, when the absences pile up, La Masia remains the first resource.