Lopez out, €70m player in – Predicted Barcelona starting XI for La Liga clash against Leganes | OneFootball

FC Barcelona return to La Liga action after having recently defeated Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League. That game itself has instilled a lot of confidence in the team, but they now need to show it in the league. As for their opponents, Leganes will prove to be a tough test for Barcelona.

Despite battling relegation, the opposition relies heavily on defending with their lives if needed. For that reason, as has also been reportedly recently, Hansi Flick could look to field a strong starting eleven for this game that is not too different from the one he fielded against Dortmund.

Here is how Barcelona could line up for this game.

Expected Line-up:

Goalkeeper: Wojciech Szczesny

The Polish goalkeeper survived a minor scare ahead of his last appearance for the team, but he should be ready to start for Barcelona in this important league clash.

Right-back: Jules Kounde

Always a consistent performer for Hansi Flick’s team, Jules Kounde is a guarantee at Barcelona. While he may not exactly be the fastest fullback, he always seems to deliver well both in terms of his offensive contributions and his defensive work.

Centre-back: Pau Cubarsi

The young defender has a great mix of defensive strength and technical quality, and that fits perfectly at Barcelona. With him on the pitch, it is often much easier for the entire team to function much better.

Centre-back: Inigo Martinez

A true leader in defense, he is someone that even Hansi Flick seems to value a lot. Moreover, both his experience and his quality on the ball are great assets that help this Barcelona team thrive even in difficult situations.

Left-back: Alejandro Balde

While he may not have exactly been the most effective player in the last game against Borussia Dortmund, Alejandro Balde still has a lot to offer. In this encounter, his speed could potentially help open up spaces in the Leganes structure.

CDM: Frenkie de Jong

The Dutchman continues to prove his worth in 2025. His performances this year have been sublime, and even beyond just an individual level, he has enabled the players around him to perform at a higher level as well.

CDM: Pedri

Simply the heart of the team, Pedri is at times the sole reason that Barcelona is able to play at their very best. His ability to control the tempo of the game and dictate how things go are both vital for Hansi Flick’s team in many ways.

RAM: Lamine Yamal

The young teenage sensation always seems to produce magic for Barcelona when he is on the pitch. His ability to simply create things out of nothing are crucial for this team, especially when they seem to be out of ideas and need someone to step up.

CAM: Gavi

While Fermin Lopez started for Barcelona against Borussia Dortmund in the last game, this could be an opportunity for Gavi to get the chance to do so this time. He has already returned to full fitness, and his quality is undoubtedly there.

Thus, instead of Fermin Lopez, the €70 million-rated player, as per his Transfermarkt valuation, could end up starting for Barcelona against Leganes in this game.

With a goal and two assists in his last game, Raphinha is back on fire for Barça. Now, he will look to take that performance in the Champions League and use it to help him perform just as well or better against a team that has already beat Barcelona previously this season.

Having scored a brace in his last game, Robert Lewandowski seems to have regained confidence in this final stretch of the season. That is crucial for Barcelona, as having the Polish striker be at his best could mean more goals for Hansi Flick’s side.