Flick turns to Raphinha as Barcelona face Elche

Hansi Flick has made a significant selection call for Barcelona's meeting with Elche, choosing Raphinha to operate through the middle of the attack instead of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. The team news also confirms that Wojciech Szczesny starts on the bench.

Raphinha given central role

The headline decision from Flick is in the forward line. Rather than using Lewandowski or Torres as the central attacking option, the Barcelona coach has opted for Raphinha in that role against Elche.

It is a notable adjustment in the structure of the front line, particularly given Lewandowski's status and Torres' ability to play across the attack. Flick's choice suggests a different attacking interpretation for this game, with Raphinha trusted to lead the line.

Lewandowski and Torres not used there

The source material makes clear that both Lewandowski and Torres have been overlooked as the central striker for this match. That alone makes the selection one of the main talking points from Barcelona's starting XI.

While no wider tactical explanation has been provided, the decision underlines Flick's willingness to reshape his attacking setup depending on the opponent and the demands of the occasion.

Szczesny among the substitutes

There is also confirmation regarding Szczesny, who has been named on the bench. His place among the substitutes is another clear detail from Barcelona's team announcement ahead of the game.

The lineup is also said to contain one major surprise, adding further intrigue to Flick's selection. However, beyond that indication, no additional details have been provided in the source material.

• Raphinha has been selected to play through the middle for Barcelona against Elche.
• Robert Lewandowski is not starting in that central attacking role.
• Ferran Torres is also not being used there.
• Wojciech Szczesny is on the bench.

With Barcelona preparing to face Elche, the focus will now turn to how Flick's attacking decision functions on the pitch. Before a ball is kicked, though, the manager's choice to hand Raphinha the central role is the standout element of the team news.