Hansi Flick has a number of major injury concerns to worry about as Barcelona prepare to face Osasuna on Saturday night.
The German manager has had a very successful start at Camp Nou, but injuries have started to pile up, meaning Flick has had to dip into the club’s crop of youngsters. However, Barca are coping well with absences, bouncing back from defeat in Monaco to defeat Villarreal and Getafe in La Liga.
Barça lead Real Madrid at the top of the table by four points, but can they extend that lead before Los Blancos take on Atlético Madrid in Sunday’s derby in the capital?
Here’s the lineup that Flick could roll out Saturday evening.
GK: Paint ink – Marc-Andre ter Stegen is out for the season and Barça have been linked with all kinds of goalkeepers in recent days. However, Inaki Pena has replaced him at short notice and will continue his career in the team here.
RB: Jules Kounde – Received high praise from Flick after Getafe’s win. He has little competition for the right back spot.
CB: Pau Cubarsi – One of Barça’s youngsters introduced by ex-coach Xavi last season, Cubarsi breathes confidence at just 17 years old and enters the team with Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen sidelined due to injury.
CB: Inigo Martinez – Only three players have played more minutes The League for Barça so far this season than Martínez, who has started all seven games so far.
LB: Alexandre Balde – Offers an electric presence at left-back, but the 20-year-old is still looking for his first goal contribution of the campaign.
DM: Eric Garcia – With Christensen, Fermín López, Marc Bernal and Dani Olmo out, Garcia has taken some playing time in midfield. He was terrible against Monaco and both Gavi and Frenkie de Jong could return soon to knock him out of the starting XI.
DM: Peter – Still only 21, the Euro 2024 winner enjoyed a 13-minute cameo against Getafe, but should set the Sadar turf right from the start on Saturday night.
RM: Lamine Yamal – Leading the League with five assists so far, Yamal has already made a difference in several Barça games this season. He is very likely to impress again at the weekend.
AM: Pablo Torre – Torre made the most of his opportunity in his first start of the season, scoring a goal and an assist as Barça thrashed Villarreal 5-1. He may have to beat out competition from Marc Casado for playing time.
LM: Raphinha – The Brazilian international followed his elimination from Villarreal with a more lackluster display against Getafe. However, only two players have scored more often in La Liga than Raphinha so far in 2024/25.
ST: Robert Lewandowski – One of these two shooters is Lewandowski, the other is Ayoze Perez. The Polish striker looks as lethal as ever, having already hit the back of the net seven times in the Spanish top flight.
