How Flick could line up Barcelona against Elche

Barcelona are set to begin their La Liga season away to Elche, with the focus falling not only on the champions’ delayed start but also on how Hansi Flick plans to reshape his team after a significant summer overhaul.

The Catalan club are one of four sides starting the campaign later than the rest, a consequence of players being involved in the latter stages of the World Cup. La Liga rules guarantee three weeks of rest for any player who featured in the final phase of the tournament, a point previously addressed by league president Javier Tebas during the competition.

That delay has only added to the intrigue around Barcelona’s first league selection. Spanish outlets AS and Marca have both outlined what they believe will be Flick’s starting XI for the trip to Elche, and both are aligned on the shape: a 4-3-3 system.

A new-look Barcelona after a busy summer

Barcelona head into the new season after substantial changes to the squad. Among those to leave are Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres, Marcus Rashford and Ronald Araujo, while the arrivals include Rodri, Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi and Joao Cancelo.

Cancelo’s return is one of the more notable developments. After coming back from a loan spell at Al-Hilal, he reportedly ended his contract by mutual agreement, allowing him to wear the Barcelona shirt again.

For all the movement in the market, one issue remains unresolved for Flick. Barcelona are still without a recognised centre-forward after Joan Laporta and Deco were unable to complete a move for Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid.

Who replaces Lewandowski?

That has made the centre-forward position the main talking point ahead of the visit to Elche. In recent seasons, that role had largely belonged to Lewandowski or Ferran Torres. Now, according to the Spanish media predictions, Flick could turn to Anthony Gordon as the central attacking option from the start.

It would be a notable call, with the former Newcastle player expected to operate between Lamine Yamal and Raphinha in the front three. Rather than using a traditional No 9, Barcelona may begin the season with a more flexible attacking line.

Behind them, the projected midfield trio is Fermin Lopez, Marc Bernal and Xavi Espart, suggesting Flick could lean on energy and technical security in the middle of the pitch.

Predicted XI and key selection calls

In goal, Joan Garcia is expected to keep his place, with Wojciech Szczesny likely to start on the bench. The back line tipped by both AS and Marca features Eric Garcia, Andreas Christensen, Gerard Martin and Cancelo.

Cancelo’s inclusion is particularly eye-catching because it would come at the expense of Alejandro Balde, who, according to the reports cited in Spain, could be on his way out of the club.

• Predicted formation: 4-3-3
• Predicted front three: Lamine Yamal, Anthony Gordon, Raphinha
• Predicted midfield: Fermin Lopez, Marc Bernal, Xavi Espart
• Predicted defence: Eric Garcia, Andreas Christensen, Gerard Martin, Joao Cancelo
• Predicted goalkeeper: Joan Garcia

Elche provide the opening test

Elche go into the match after drawing 1-1 with newly promoted Deportivo La Coruna in the opening round, while Barcelona are only now getting their campaign under way. That creates an interesting backdrop for Flick’s first league selection of the season.

For Barcelona, this is about more than simply opening the defence of their title. It is the first real indication of how Flick intends to balance a reworked squad, cope without Lewandowski and build an attack before the club secures a specialist striker.

If the Spanish predictions are correct, the first answer may be a bold one: not a direct replacement for Lewandowski, but a redesigned forward line built around movement, width and adaptation.