Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News
FC Barcelona will play their first recreation of the brand new yr on Saturday as they tackle minnows UD Barbastro within the Copa del Rey Spherical of 32.
Coming into 2025 on the again of poor outcomes and the destructive media consideration on account of Dani Olmo and Pau Victor’s re-registration points, the Blaugrana shall be keen to start the brand new yr on a profitable be aware.
Barbastro put up a superb struggle final yr when the 2 groups met at this precise stage within the Copa del Rey and shall be gunning for an upset victory of their yard regardless that the probabilities of that are extraordinarily slim.
Barça come into the sport with out the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Marc Bernal, and Ferran Torres. Andreas Christensen has resumed coaching however is not going to be concerned tomorrow as confirmed by supervisor Hansi Flick earlier as we speak.
Lamine Yamal can be again to full coaching, together with fellow teenager Hector Fort. Nonetheless, Olmo and Pau Victor shall be unavailable as issues stand.
There shall be some rotations made by the Barça head coach, particularly with the Spanish Tremendous Cup semi-final towards Athletic Membership developing subsequent week. With that in thoughts, right here’s how Flick might set his workforce up towards Barbastro.
Defence
After a protracted wait, the whole lot means that emergency signing Wojciech Szczesny will make his debut for Barcelona, changing Inaki Pena between the sticks.
The Polish goalkeeper has needed to bide his time since arriving as a sudden alternative for the injured Ter Stegen. However his likelihood seems all set to reach tomorrow.
In the meantime, one other Barça star is more likely to make his first look of the season tomorrow within the type of Ronald Araujo. The second captain has absolutely recovered from his harm, has been within the matchday squads for a few video games and is poised for his first minutes.
Ronald Araujo prepared to start out. (Picture by Alex Caparros/Getty Photos)
Araujo is more likely to be paired up alongside Eric Garcia on the coronary heart of the Barcelona defence, with Flick giving the established partnership of Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez a relaxation.
At right-back, Jules Kounde is predicted to proceed given Hector Fort is simply again from harm. Gerard Martin is more likely to change Alejandro Balde on the left facet.
Midfield
Transferring into the center of the park, each Pedri and Marc Casado are due some relaxation, particularly with an all-important semi-final developing in a couple of days.
It ought to pave the best way for Frenkie de Jong and Gavi to start out collectively within the double pivot. Each midfielders have regarded considerably out of types since coming back from their long-term accidents and can see tomorrow’s recreation as a superb likelihood to get their rhythm going.
Transferring ahead, with Dani Olmo set to be unavailable, Pablo Torre, who has excelled each time given an opportunity, ought to get the nod because the attacking midfielder for the Catalans.
Assault
Barcelona are considerably quick on choices in assault as Lamine Yamal is unlikely to be risked having solely returned from a spell on the sidelines whereas Ferran Torres is injured. Pau Victor, too, shall be unavailable due to the registration mess.
It might drive Flick to start out with two of his three regulars in assault – Robert Lewandowski because the No. 9 and Raphinha on the suitable flank.
As for the left flank, whereas there’s a likelihood that Ansu Fati might function, fellow academy man Fermin Lopez seems extra more likely to begin because the false-winger.
