FC Barcelona, battling injuries, unveils a reshuffled lineup for their UEFA Champions League clash against Olympiacos.
Hansi Flick’s squad, battered by injuries, faces a crucial test before El Clasico on October 26, with the manager sidelined by a red card from the Girona win.
Barcelona’s 4-3-3 lineup features Wojciech Szczesny in goal, deputizing for the injured Marc-André ter Stegen and Joan Garcia.
The backline includes Jules Koundé, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsí, and Gerard Martin, aiming to shore up a defense exposed by Girona’s counters.
In midfield, Eric Garcia shifts to a holding role, joined by Frenkie de Jong and Marc Casado, allowing Pedri a rest for El Clasico.
Up top, Fermin Lopez leads the line, flanked by Marcus Rashford and Lamine Yamal, with Raphinha and Ferran Torres ruled out but nearing recovery.
Flick’s injury crisis, with Gavi, Dani Olmo, and Robert Lewandowski also sidelined, has forced reliance on La Masia talents, as seen in the 2-1 Girona victory.
“We’re in a complicated situation, but the team is in great spirits,” Flick noted, emphasizing fight despite poor pressing and positioning.
Lopez, fresh from injury, brings energy as a false nine, while Yamal’s flair (six goals, eight assists) remains pivotal.
Garcia’s midfield experiment aims to control Olympiacos’s tempo, but the backline must tighten after recent lapses.
With a €380m Spotify deal easing financial pressures, Barcelona’s focus is on UEFA Champions League progress.
Hansi Flick’s challenge is to balance youth and experience, with Cubarsí’s composure and Rashford’s pressing key against Olympiacos’s physicality.
A win could boost morale before the Santiago Bernabéu, but the thin squad risks burnout.
This lineup, blending grit and potential, underscores Barcelona’s resilience in a season-defining week, with El Clasico looming as the ultimate test.
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