The last meeting between FCBarcelona and Galatasaray, held in the second leg of the round of 16 of the 2021-22 Europa League, left the Barça squad with four players who are still in the team: Eric García, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri and Gavi. Since that match, 25 signings have been registered, which demonstrates the great change that the Catalan squad has undergone over recent seasons.
The duel ended with a 2‑1 victory for Barça, with Eric García's winning goal in the 54th minute, which gave the team the advantage necessary to advance to the quarterfinals. At that time, the four players who remain in the squad were young and had not yet reached the maturity that today allows them to occupy key positions under the direction of HansiFlick. Pedri and Gavi, 23 and 22 years old respectively, and Frenkie de Jong, 29, have been pillars of the double pivot in the 2023-24 season, while Eric García, at 25 years old, has established himself as one of the team's most versatile full-backs.
For today's match, Frenkie de Jong will not be able to participate, as he is still without medical clearance due to the injury he suffered in the 2026 World Cup. Although he trains with the group, the Dutchman is not authorized to play and is expected to return soon. Eric García and Pedri, who were substitutes in the 3-0 victory against Getafe, are ready to enter the starting eleven. Gavi, for his part, can appear as a substitute to provide freshness and help control the game, especially in the event of a possible lack of control on the part of Galatasaray.
The memory of the meeting with Galatasaray remains in the memories of the fans thanks to the goal of Eric García, who left the Ottoman defense on the ground before finishing with a pass that sealed the provisional tie. At that time, García formed the centre-back pairing with Gerard Piqué. Two seasons later, he was loaned to Girona, where he became a key player, and is now a fundamental piece in Flick's rotation, even as a starter at right back.
On the Galatasaray side, only Baris Alper Yilmaz, 26, is still in the squad since that time. The promising youngster was left on the bench for the entire match and, over the last few seasons, has emerged as one of Turkey's best players, making 213 appearances for the first team and 41 for the senior team. Last season, he was a key piece for coach OkanBuruk, contributing 12 goals and 14 assists.
With the absence of Frenkie de Jong and the presence of the four surviving players, Barcelona prepares to face Galatasaray with a team that combines youth and experience. The result of this confrontation could influence Barça's position in the table and its trajectory in European competition.