Marc Casado will replace the injured Pedri in the Barcelona starting lineup when they host Elche CF at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Sunday evening.

Barcelona will be eager to return to winning ways and avoid falling further behind Real Madrid in La Liga when they welcome Elche CF to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Sunday evening. Hansi Flick has received a mixed bag of updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.

Pedri is the latest absentee after picking up a hamstring injury. The Spanish international will be unavailable for nearly two months. However, Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski have resumed training this week, and they will likely return to the matchday squad. Additionally, Joan Garcia is closing in on returning.

Meanwhile, Pedri has joined Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Andreas Christensen, Gavi, and Raphinha in the treatment room. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Flick provided fitness updates on Pedri, Olmo, Lewandowski, and others.

The Barcelona manager said, “We have to stick to our game plan and press. I really liked the last two training sessions. Plus, we’re getting Dani Olmo and Lewandowski back, even though we lost Pedri. The injury surprised us.”

“After the match in Madrid he only had a minor discomfort, just fatigue, but when we checked it, we found the injury. We have to accept it. Hopefully he’ll be back soon. We’re missing one of our key players. He gives us stability and a lot of possession. We have to manage. Sometimes things are like that. We have to accept it. There’s still a long way to go until the end of the season.”

Speaking about Joan Garcia, the Barcelona boss said, “With Joan Garcia, we’re taking it day by day. He looks good, but we shouldn’t put pressure on him. We’ll see how much Lewandowski and Olmo can play tomorrow. Normally I don’t think about the injured players, but it’s not easy to manage. The important thing is for them to raise their level and for the others to do so too, especially the young ones.”

Wojciech Szczesny will retain his spot between the sticks, with Barcelona lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Elche CF on Sunday. The backline will feature Jules Kounde, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, and Alejandro Balde.

As for the midfield unit, Marc Casado will replace the stricken Pedri, joining Frenkie de Jong in the double pivot. Fermin Lopez will reprise the no. 10 role, with Lamine Yamal and Marcus Rashford being the two wide attackers. Finally, Ferran Torres will lead the line for the home side against Elche, with Robert Lewandowski being a backup option on the bench.

Predicted Barcelona XI: Szczesny; Kounde, Cubarsi, Eric Garcia, Balde; Casado, de Jong; Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Rashford; Torres