Flick names first Barcelona squad with key absences

FC Barcelona have confirmed their first matchday squad of the 2026/27 season, with Hansi Flick selecting 23 players for the away game against Elche. The early team news has quickly focused attention on two notable omissions: Rodri and Alejandro Balde.

First squad of the new season announced

The publication of a first squad list always offers an initial glimpse into a manager’s thinking at the start of a campaign, and that is especially true at a club of Barcelona’s profile. In this case, Flick has named a 23-man group for the opening assignment away from home, giving supporters their first official indication of how the squad is shaping up for competitive action.

While the full significance of any selection only becomes clearer over time, the immediate reaction is likely to centre on the players who are not involved. Barcelona’s announcement has done exactly that, with the absence of Rodri and Balde standing out straight away.

Rodri and Balde missing from the group

There is no bigger talking point from the squad announcement than the non-inclusion of Rodri and Alejandro Balde. Both are described as important players, so their absence from the first match squad of the season is naturally significant.

At this stage, the key confirmed fact is simply that neither player is part of the 23-man travelling group for Elche. Without further detail, the reasons behind those omissions remain unclear, but their absence will still shape the discussion around Barcelona’s opening fixture.

Attention turns to Elche trip

Barcelona’s season now begins with an away match against Elche, and Flick’s first squad selection provides the first formal marker of the new campaign. Opening games often carry added scrutiny, not only because of the result at stake but because every selection decision is examined for clues about availability, hierarchy and early-season planning.

For now, the clearest takeaway is straightforward: Barcelona are heading to Elche with a 23-player squad, and two of the most eye-catching names missing are Rodri and Balde. As first squad announcements go, that is the detail most likely to dominate the conversation around Flick’s opening team news.

• FC Barcelona have announced their first matchday squad of the 2026/27 season.
• Hansi Flick has selected 23 players.
• The match is an away game against Elche.
• Rodri and Alejandro Balde are not included.