Barcelona are aiming for a fourth successive win to start the 2024/25 La Liga season on Saturday when they take on Real Valladolid.
La Blaugrana have achieved maximum points from their opening three league matches and are the only side to have managed such a feat in the Spanish top flight. The Hansi Flick era has started impressively and a victory over newly-promoted Valladolid this weekend would set them up nicely heading into September.
Injuries have caused issues for the German coach, though. 17-year-old Marc Bernal is the latest to add his name to a long list of absentees, with the likes of Frenkie de Jong, Gavi and Ronald Araujo having missed the start of the campaign.
Here is how Barca could line up this weekend.
GK: Marc-Andre ter Stegen – The German could have done better with Rayo Vallecano’s goal in Barca’s recent 2-1 victory in Madrid when he was beaten fairly comfortably at his near post. Sums up a frustrating start to the season for the goalkeeper.
RB: Jules Kounde – Kounde and his Barca teammates are still searching for their first clean sheet of the season and will fancy themselves to earn one against Valladolid. The Frenchman will need to offer support to Lamine Yamal down the right, too.
CB: Pau Cubarsi – Another mature and imposing display from Cubarsi against Rayo, with the 17-year-old tasked with keeping Barca’s defence afloat in the midst of an injury crisis.
CB: Inigo Martinez – The veteran is no longer at his peak and that has been evident at the start of 2024/25. However, he plugs a gap for the time being as the likes of Araujo, Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen recover.
LB: Alejandro Balde – Rested midweek in favour of youngster Gerard Martin but will certainly return this weekend after a ropey outing from the 22-year-old on his first La Liga start.
DM: Marc Casado – Following an injury to Bernal, 20-year-old namesake Casado may find himself in Flick’s starting XI against Valladolid. One of Barca’s only natural sitting midfielders currently available.
DM: Pedri – Flick will be relieved to have Pedri back after his Euro 2024 injury, especially following his accomplished strike against Rayo last time out. He will be given the licence to roam across midfield.
RW: Lamine Yamal – The 17-year-old’s consistency is astounding. He grabbed another assist against Rayo and lit up the match with his frequent bursts down the right-hand side. Yamal is already essential to the Catalan giants.
AM: Dani Olmo – A pretty impressive debut saw him net the winning goal against Rayo, which will earn the summer recruit his first start. His budding partnership with Yamal could prove fatal for Valladolid.
LW: Raphinha – Attacking midfield is clearly not his best position and Olmo’s arrival should allow him to move out wide once more. Grabbed an assist against Rayo for Pedri’s equaliser and could be a key contributor for Flick.
ST: Robert Lewandowski – Flick knew how to get the best out of Lewandowski at Bayern Munich and he’s managing to do the same at Barca. The Polish sharpshooter drifts in and out of matches, but he’s always likely to score when handed the opportunity.
