Barcelona open their La Liga campaign at Elche’s Martinez Valero on Sunday evening. It is the Catalans’ first official outing of the season, and all eyes are on the side Hansi Flick picks to launch the hunt for silverware.
New signings Joao Cancelo, Karim Adeyemi and Anthony Gordon are all registered and available to Flick for the trip to Elche. Pedri, however, is not. He has yet to train with the group and won’t link up with his team-mates before Monday, as the German confirmed. Bisuoo also misses out through an administrative issue, despite being registered with the reserve side.
Three positions look set to give Flick the biggest headaches. The heart of defence tops the list, with Kounde and Christensen battling to partner Gerard Martin. Then comes left-back, and finally the left wing, where Gordon and Adeyemi are fighting for the spot. The rest of the line-up looks clearer.
Joan Garcia should start in goal, protected by Eric Garcia, Christensen, Gerard Martin and Cancelo. Marc Casado, Marc Bernal and Fermin form the midfield, while Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Gordon lead the attack.
Elche, for their part, go into the game with a side close to the one that drew 1-1 with Deportivo on the opening weekend. Yago de Santiago and Adam Boyer both sit out injured.
Dituro is expected to start in goal for the hosts, in front of Victor Chust, Redondo and Affengruber. Sanjari, Marc Aguado, Gonzalo Villar and German Valera make up the midfield, with Ali Houari, Sepeda and Fer Nino leading the line.