The Possible Barcelona Squad Against Monaco in the Joan Gamper Trophy

Barcelona’s squad under Hansi Flick is still an enigma. There may be assumptions about the German coach’s plans, but there are no certainties. Given his time at Bayern Munich and the German national team, anyone betting on the 4-2-3-1 set-up as the tactical system is likely to be correct. That’s about the only thing that became relatively clear in the three friendlies of the US Tour against Manchester City (2-2 and 4-1 win on penalties), Real Madrid (2-1 triumph), and Milan (2-2 and 3-4 defeat on penalties). However, selecting a first-choice starting XI is surrounded by question marks because, in the United States, he could not count on Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsí, and Dani Olmo, who will all be available today for the Joan Gamper Trophy against AS Monaco (8:00 p.m., TV3 and Barça One).

Fermin will also be absent, taking a week’s break, as will the injured Gavi, Pedri, De Jong, Araujo, and Ansu Fati. Meanwhile, the sporting directors try to sign Nico Williams. In short, the Gamper Trophy will provide a clear idea of the starting XI that Barça will present at Mestalla against Valencia on Saturday, August 17 (9:30 p.m.) on the first day of La Liga 2024-25, still with youth players who have earned their place, perhaps the double pivot that works with Casadó and Bernal, or Pau Víctor up front. But once everyone is available, many things could change, or maybe not.

Eric, who clarified that he will stay, and Cubarsí trained under him for the first time yesterday, without time to savor their Olympic gold. Two more center-backs for Flick. Vitor Roque, who did not train on Saturday, did not train yesterday either and could be out while his departure is being negotiated.

From the reserves or the youth team, they continue with the first team, in addition to the regulars Fort (18 years old) and Casadó (20), are the full-back Alex Valle (20), the central midfielder Marc Bernal (17), the left-back Gerard Martin (22), the central defender Sergi Dominguez (19), the striker Toni Fernandez (16), the interior Quim Junyent (17), and the center-backs Mika Faye (20) and Andres Cuenca (17).

Against Monaco, considering the number of training sessions completed with Flick, the team could be: Ter Stegen; Kounde, Christensen, Inigo, Balde; Casado, Bernal; Pau Victor, Pablo Torre, Raphinha; and Lewandowski. Lamine, Ferran, Eric, Cubarsi, and Olmo could then debut with players who have been getting into the rhythm of things, such as Gundogan.

Tags:

• Hansi Flick
• Manchester City
• Monaco FC
• Germany
• Ansu Fati
• Joan Gamper
• Dani Olmo
• Bayern
• AS Monaco
• Frenkie de Jong
• Mestalla
• Real Madrid
• Trofeo Joan Gamper
• Futbol Club Barcelona
• Selection of Germany football
• Pedri
• Ferran Torres
• Lamine Yamal