Barcelona will be aiming to extend their winning start to the 2024/25 La Liga season when they host Ernesto Valverde’s Athletic Club later today at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
It will be the first official home match of the Hansi Flick era and the German tactician will be hoping to kick things off with a victory after beating Valencia on the road last week.
Barcelona, though, will have to go into the game without some of their important players as the likes of Ronald Araujo, Gavi, and Frenkie de Jong are still out with injuries, along with Ansu Fati.
Moreover, another key player, Andreas Christensen has now joined the infirmary after picking up an injury earlier this week which could leave him sidelined for two months. Meanwhile, Ilkay Gundogan has left the club and Clement Lenglet is on the verge of an exit too.
Less than 12 hours left before the game and there is still no news on the registration of new signing Dani Olmo either and as such, there is a chance that he might again miss out.
Factoring in everything, here is how Flick could set his Barcelona team up tonight to face Valverde’s Athletic in Montjuic.
Starters
Now officially confirmed, first captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen will man the goal for Barcelona as usual and hope to keep the Athletic Club forwards at bay.
The German shot-stopper will rely on the centre-back pairing of Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez to provide protection once again with no Araujo and Christensen while Eric Garcia is being linked with an exit.
Hansi Flick confirmed that Jules Kounde will start at right-back tonight against Athletic Club where he will have the unenviable task of keeping the dangerous Nico Williams in check. Alejandro Balde will occupy the left-back position.
Marc Bernal set to start again. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
Marc Casado and Marc Bernal looked very much at home as the double-pivot in midfield for Barcelona against Valencia. And there is no…
Author : Michel Durant
Publish date : 2024-08-24 08:50:00
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Author : soccernews
Publish date : 2024-08-24 08:52:12
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.