Hamza Abdelkarim will make his first competitive appearance for Barcelona when they take on Elche at Estadio Martinez Valero on Sunday.

Barcelona will aim to begin the defence of their La Liga crown on a strong note when they lock horns with Elche CF at Estadio Martinez Valero on Sunday night. Hansi Flick has a few pressing issues to worry about ahead of his side’s first game of the 2026/27 season.

Roony Bardghji is a long-term absentee after undergoing surgery for a ruptured ACL. Additionally, Frenkie de Jong is unavailable for the foreseeable future due to a knee injury. Rodri is also on the sidelines, as he recovers from a back issue that required a medical procedure.

Otherwise, Flick has a full-strength squad to take on Elche, with the team set to feature a few debutants. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, the German tactician provided updates on Rodri, Joao Cancelo, and Hamza Abdelkarim.

The Barcelona manager said, “There are many options for the forward. The first one, I’m not sure. I think it won’t be difficult. Hamza has had a great preseason. He is a 9, young, has a lot of potential and has scored goals. It’s the important thing when you play there. He has done a great job.”

“He [Rodri] has also trained in the field. We are happy that he is here. He is fantastic. He is a leader. His personality is great. Yes, he [Cancelo] could play tomorrow. He is ready to play. He has great quality and a lot of passion. In the last season, he gave us a lot.”

Joan Garcia is an automatic pick 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. So, Cancelo will make his latest bow for the Blaugrana with an appearance off the bench.

As for the midfield unit, Marc Bernal will line up alongside Pedri in the double pivot, with Fermin Lopez reprising the no. 10 role. Finally, Hamza Abdelkarim will lead the line for the reigning La Liga champions, with Raphinha and Lamine Yamal completing the numbers in the offensive unit.

However, with Flick eager to manage minutes of players who went deep into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Yamal, Cubarsi, Eric Garcia, and Pedri are expected to be substituted in the second half. Anthony Gordon and Gavi will be among the backup options on the bench.

Predicted Barcelona XI: Joan Garcia; Kounde, Eric Garcia, Martin, Balde; Bernal, Pedri; Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Raphinha; Hamza Abdelkarim