Madrid, Aug 22 (IANS) Defending champions Barcelona will begin their La Liga title defence with a visit to a much-changed Elche side on Sunday, as Hansi Flick’s team look to make a strong start to the new campaign.
Barcelona head into the opening fixture with several new faces expected to feature. Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi provide fresh options on the wings, while Spain international midfielder Rodrigo Hernandez has also joined the squad. Joao Cancelo has returned to the club on a permanent deal after impressing during his loan spell in the second half of last season.
However, Barcelona remain without a direct replacement for either Robert Lewandowski or Ferran Torres, meaning Flick could start the season without a recognised central striker in his starting XI, reports Xinhua.
Fermin Lopez has indicated his willingness to operate as a false No. 9, with Lamine Yamal, Gordon, Adeyemi and Raphinha offering Flick a number of options in a fluid and mobile attacking setup.
The Barcelona coach could also hand a bigger role to 18-year-old Egyptian forward Hamza Abdelkarim. The youngster impressed during pre-season with his performances and goalscoring form and has been included in the first-team squad. Talks are also underway over an improved contract for Abdelkarim, who joined the club on a permanent deal at the start of the summer.
Flick will also have to carefully manage the workload of several key players. Yamal, Gordon, Pedri, Jules Kounde and Eric Garcia could see their minutes restricted after their involvement in the World Cup.
Rodrigo and Cancelo are likely to face even greater limitations, having had little time to train with their new teammates. Their limited involvement could open the door for Barcelona’s young players.
Defender Xavi Espart is among those who could benefit after making a strong impression during pre-season. His performances have strengthened his case for first-team involvement, and he could be handed an opportunity against Elche.
With several players still building their fitness and a new-look attack taking shape, Barcelona’s opening fixture will offer an early indication of how Flick plans to balance experience and youth in their title defence.
–IANS
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