Jules Kounde facing unfamiliar spell on Barcelona bench

Jules Kounde has been left out for three consecutive Barcelona matches, an unprecedented situation for the France international and one which highlights his difficult start to the season.

The Barcelona right-back missed the club’s latest La Liga victory at Sevilla, completing a run of three successive games without appearing. According to Mundo Deportivo, Kounde has never previously experienced such a period since joining Barcelona.

His current position represents a major change from his performances in previous seasons, as well as from the level he showed under Hansi Flick, Barcelona’s former managers and during his time at Sevilla.

Competition for places at Barcelona remains intense across every position, with no player guaranteed a place in the starting line-up. Flick’s selection is based on performance rather than seniority, and Kounde is fully aware of that approach.

Kounde made just 10-minute appearances in Barcelona’s opening two matches against Elche and Athletic Bilbao. He then started the third game against Rayo Vallecano before coming on as a substitute in the fourth, following an injury to Eric Garcia.

He returned to the starting XI against Feyenoord but was replaced with 30 minutes of the match still remaining. Since that Champions League fixture, Kounde has not played against Levante, Racing or Sevilla, the club where he began his career in Spain.

Although Flick has said Kounde is capable of playing at centre-back, he has so far used him only at right-back. That has left the Frenchman unable to find another route into the team while his place on the right remains under pressure.

The situation on the opposite flank has also changed. Espart was signed as an emergency solution to cover the squad’s needs and started four matches before losing his place to Joao Cancelo against Feyenoord.

Espart regained the position against Levante, but was dropped again for the two most recent games, against Racing and Sevilla. As a result, competition for defensive places has remained unsettled, with Kounde currently on the outside of Barcelona’s starting side.