Workout
Meditation
Contact Us
FC Barcelona will play their first match of the new year on Saturday when they face UD Barbastro in the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey.
Looking ahead to 2025, after the poor results and negative media attention due to the re-registration problems of Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor, the blaugrana You will be eager to start the new year on a winning note.
Barbastro put up a good fight last year when the two teams met at exactly this stage of the Copa del Rey and will be looking for a surprise victory in their backyard, although the chances of doing so are extremely slim.
Barça enters the match without the injured Marc-André ter Stegen, Marc Bernal and Ferran Torres. Andreas Christensen has returned to training but will not be present tomorrow, as coach Hansi Flick confirmed today.
Lamine Yamal has also returned to full training, along with his teammate Héctor Fort. However, Olmo and Pau Víctor will not be available as things stand.
There will be some rotations by the Barça coach, especially with the Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Athletic Club next week. With that in mind, here’s how Flick could prepare his team against Barbastro.
Defense
After a long wait, everything suggests that the emergency signing Wojciech Szczesny He will make his debut with Barcelona, replacing Iñaki Peña between the sticks.
The Polish goalkeeper has had to bide his time since arriving as a sudden replacement for the injured Ter Stegen. But his chance seems ready to come tomorrow.
Meanwhile, another Barça star could make his first appearance of the season tomorrow: Ronald Araújo. The second captain has fully recovered from his injury, has been in the squad for a couple of games and is ready to face his first minutes.
It is likely that Araujo will form a pair with Eric Garcia at the heart of Barcelona’s defense, with Flick resting the already established pairing of Pau Cubarsi and Íñigo Martínez.
On the right side, Jules Koundé This is expected to continue given that Héctor Fort has just returned from injury. Gerard Martin He is likely to replace Alejandro Balde at left back.
Midfield
Moving towards the center of the park, both Pedri and Marc Casado need to get some rest, especially with a very important semi-final looming in a few days.
Should pave the way for Frenkie de Jong and gavi to start together in the double pivot. Both midfielders have looked a bit out of sorts since returning from their long-term injuries and will see tomorrow’s game as a good opportunity to get back into rhythm.
In the future, since Dani Olmo will not be available, Pablo Torrewho has stood out whenever he has had the opportunity, should get the nod as the Catalans’ attacking midfielder.
Stroke
Barcelona have few options in attack as they are unlikely to take a chance on Lamine Yamal, who has just returned from a spell on the sidelines while Ferran Torres is injured. Pau Víctor will also not be available due to the registration mess.
It could force Flick to start with two of his usual three in attack. Robert Lewandowski like No. 9 and raffin on the right flank.
As for the left wing, although there is a possibility that Ansu Fati could appear, his youth teammate Fermin Lopez It seems more likely that he will start as a false winger.
