The ‘6’ and the ‘8’. The ‘8’ and the ‘6’. Just like in the glorious days of Xavi and Iniesta, when they exchanged passes across Europe’s penalty areas, Barcelona recaptured that iconic image on the day of their 29th league title, with Pedri and Gavi at the heart of it. The Canary Islander, a master of the game, boasted a 99% pass accuracy. The Andalusian, described by Xavi as “a heart with legs,” delivered an outstanding positional and tactical display. Hansi Flick proved he didn’t need a specific holding midfielder (like Eric Garcia or De Jong) to build a stable team against Madrid. Pedri and Gavi divided the space perfectly. It’s clear they blend seamlessly together. One is the brain, the other is the passion. Yet, they can also swap roles. Pedri runs relentlessly (he has covered up to 14 kilometers in some matches this season); Gavi also knows how to slow down the tempo and orchestrate the team. “Those who say I can’t play don’t have a clue about football,” he asserted last season.
The season hasn’t been easy for either of them. After a previous campaign where he was widely talked about as a Ballon d’Or candidate—despite later falling lower on the France Football list—Pedri has spent more than 70 days sidelined. Even so, Flick has continued to give him the team’s reins without question, and he has delivered memorable performances, such as the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Atlético.
Gavi, once again, has battled adversity. He underwent another operation at the end of September because his right knee wasn’t fully recovered, working in silence to return. He came back in mid-March. His reappearance, a few minutes against Sevilla, seemed like the start of a slow adjustment for next season. But nothing could be further from the truth. Gavi was in top form. Flick trusted him and, as a fan of the passion he brings to the game, started him in the season’s toughest match. At the Metropolitano, playing as a holding midfielder alongside Pedri, he tried to spark a comeback. It was impossible, but that night, a month ago now, proved he was back to stay. So much so that it’s hard to imagine De la Fuente not including him in the 26-man squad for the World Cup.
