When Pedri is not in the pitch, his absence is felt. He keeps the FC Barcelona midfield ticking over and has only missed one game of the Flick era to date. It's hardly worth mentioning apart from the fact that the figure will be doubled after he was sent off in the Clásico at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. The game against Elche at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys will be only the second time the German coach cannot call on him since he arrived at the Club.

FC Barcelona fans never tire of watching the number eight's quality. The Canary Islander has been displaying his talent for the blaugranes for 41 consecutive competitive games. However, the two yellow cards in the recent Clásico brings an end to a run that began on 29 January 2025 against Atalanta. Before that, he had only missed last season's LaLiga matchday 21 fixture due to gastroenteritis, which finished Barça 7 - 1 Valencia, the first match that Hansi Flick couldn't pick Pedri.

72 of 73 games with Flick

So, the German coach will be without Pedri for the second time since he arrived at Barça, testament to the midfielder's key role in Flick's lineups. The Canary Islander has played in 72 of the 73 games he has managed, and nearly always as a starter. He only came off the bench three times, all of which were all last season – against Valencia and Getafe in LaLiga and against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. 

Flick's Barça side managed very well on the only occasion Pedri was absent, the stunning 7-1 against Valencia on Montjuïc. However, it's never good news when he misses a Barça match, he clearly makes the difference, but Flick will have to look for other options against Elche. Time for the midfielder to take break, albeit due to obligation. 

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