Araujo, Szczesny start in a 4-2-3-1 – How Barcelona could line up against Barbastro | OneFootball

FC Barcelona will play their first game of the new year on Saturday as they take on minnows UD Barbastro in the Copa del Rey Round of 32.

Coming into 2025 on the back of poor results and the negative media attention due to Dani Olmo and Pau Victor’s re-registration issues, the Blaugrana will be eager to begin the new year on a winning note.

Barbastro put up a good fight last year when the two teams met at this exact stage in the Copa del Rey and will be gunning for an upset victory in their backyard even though the chances of which are extremely slim.

Barça come into the game without the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Marc Bernal, and Ferran Torres. Andreas Christensen has resumed training but will not be involved tomorrow as confirmed by manager Hansi Flick earlier today.

Lamine Yamal is also back to full training, along with fellow youngster Hector Fort. However, Olmo and Pau Victor will be unavailable as things stand.

There will be some rotations made by the Barça head coach, especially with the Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Athletic Club coming up next week. With that in mind, here’s how Flick could set his team up against Barbastro.

Defence

After a long wait, everything suggests that emergency signing Wojciech Szczesny will make his debut for Barcelona, replacing Inaki Pena between the sticks.

The Polish goalkeeper has had to bide his time since arriving as a sudden replacement for the injured Ter Stegen. But his chance appears all set to arrive tomorrow.

Meanwhile, another Barça star is likely to make his first appearance of the season tomorrow in the form of Ronald Araujo. The second captain has fully recovered from his injury, has been in the matchday squads for a couple of games and is poised for his first minutes.

Ronald Araujo ready to start. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Araujo is likely to be paired up alongside Eric Garcia at the heart of the Barcelona defence, with Flick giving the established partnership of Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez a rest.

At right-back, Jules Kounde is expected to continue given Hector Fort is just back from injury. Gerard Martin is likely to replace Alejandro Balde on the left side.

Midfield

Moving into the middle of the park, both Pedri and Marc Casado are due some rest, especially with an all-important semi-final coming up in a few days.

It should pave the way for Frenkie de Jong and Gavi to start together in the double pivot. Both midfielders have looked somewhat out of sorts since returning from their long-term injuries and will see tomorrow’s game as a good chance to get their rhythm going.

Moving forward, with Dani Olmo set to be unavailable, Pablo Torre, who has excelled whenever given a chance, should get the nod as the attacking midfielder for the Catalans.

Attack

Barcelona are somewhat short on options in attack as Lamine Yamal is unlikely to be risked having only returned from a spell on the sidelines while Ferran Torres is injured. Pau Victor, too, will be unavailable because of the registration mess.

It could force Flick to start with two of his three regulars in attack – Robert Lewandowski as the No. 9 and Raphinha on the right flank.

As for the left flank, while there is a chance that Ansu Fati could feature, fellow academy man Fermin Lopez appears more likely to start as the false-winger.