Barcelona have announced their official squad list for the Copa del Rey quarter-final away to Albacete at the Estadio Carlos Belmonte.
The holders arrive in La Mancha on the back of a strong cup run and a recent upturn in form, and this tie offers a major opportunity to book a place in the semi-finals while maintaining momentum across all competitions.
With rotation, injuries and youth promotion all in play, the travelling group underlines Flick’s attempt to balance competitiveness with smart resource management at a key point in the calendar.
The biggest absentee is captain Raphinha, ruled out due to muscle fatigue and added to an injury list that already includes Pedri, Andreas Christensen and Gavi, as per the official Barcelona statement.
The Brazilian winger’s adductor overload means he will be protected for at least a week, forcing Barcelona to reshuffle their attacking options and increasing the likelihood of minutes for less-used forwards.
Flick will lean on his remaining senior core while trusting the depth of his squad to carry them through a tricky away cup tie.
There is positive news from La Masia, as promising academy midfielder Tommy Marques has been recalled to the squad after missing the weekend clash against Elche.
His inclusion reflects the coaching staff’s faith in his development and offers another energetic option between the lines, especially if Flick chooses to freshen up his midfield during the game.
The rest of the list is largely as expected, with no shock returns or surprise debutants, but several fringe figures stand to benefit.
The match could hand valuable minutes to the likes of Joao Cancelo, Marcus Rashford and Marc Bernal, all of whom have been mentioned as candidates for more involvement in cup rotation.
Against an Albacete side eager to spring an upset at home, Flick’s chosen group will need to find the right mix of control, intensity and professionalism to keep the Copa del Rey defence alive.
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