Cubarsi, Yamal start in a 4-2-3-1: How Barcelona could line up against Valencia

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.

While Marc Bernal was his regular partner in the middle in the friendlies, Flick is likely to hold back the 17-year-old tonight and instead trust the experienced Andreas Christensen to start as one of the pivots.

Gundogan’s absence paves the way for Pablo Torre to get the nod in the No. 10 role, considering that Pedri is unlikely to be risked so soon after recovering from injury.

Flanking the attacking midfielder on the right side should be teenage wonderkid Lamine Yamal, who was one of the standouts at the Euros this summer.

On the opposite flank, Raphinha is expected to get the nod over the likes of Ferran Torres and Pau Victor. Robert Lewandowski, who turns 36 next week, will spearhead the attack.

Substitutes

Marc Bernal is likely to make his La Liga debut with some minutes expected to come towards him off the bench. The same holds for new signing Pau Victor, who top-scored for Barcelona during pre-season.

Pedri should also get some minutes drip-fed, although Flick will be wary of exerting the midfield maestro too much. Fellow UEFA Euro 2024 winner Ferran Torres is also likely to come on in the second half.