In under eight hours, FC Barcelona will play their first official game under new manager Hansi Flick as they lock horns with Valencia in Matchweek 1 of La Liga away at Mestalla.
Coming into the game on the back of a disappointing loss to AS Monaco in the pre-season Joan Gamper Trophy match, the Blaugrana will be intent on producing a strong reaction and make a winning start to the Flick era.
However, Barcelona will have to make do without a number of key players as Ronald Araujo, Frenkie de Jong, and Gavi are still out injured, along with Ansu Fati.
Meanwhile, Ilkay Gundogan also misses out as a precaution after he suffered a blow to the head during the Gamper Trophy match.
But there is some great news for Barcelona as Pedri is fit and available while the team has also managed to register almost all players barring new signing Dani Olmo.
Here’s how Barcelona could take the field against Valencia tonight as the Hansi Flick era gets underway.
Starters
Now the first captain of the team, Marc-Andre ter Stegen will man the goal for Barcelona but will need to step up in a big way after a lackadaisical display against Monaco.
Shielding the German international in goal should be Pau Cubarsi, back after a fine Olympics campaign with Spain where he won gold, along with Inigo Martinez who has been an ever-present in pre-season for Flick.
Alejandro Balde is the undisputed starter at left-back for Barcelona this season and will have a lot of responsibility given how Flick’s teams operate. Jules Kounde will again contribute as a right-back after impressing at the Euros.
Marc Casado, promoted to the first team, is all set to start his first La Liga match as part of the double pivot, after having made a big impression in pre-season.
Set for his first La Liga start. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
While Marc Bernal was his regular partner in the middle in the friendlies, Flick is likely to hold back the 17-year-old…
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Author : Michel Durant
Publish date : 2024-08-17 11:58:11
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