Barcelona coach, HansiFlick, has confirmed that the next match against Betis will be one of the most important of the season, as it is the first match in a series of three highly demanding matches that the Catalan club will have in the next nine days. In yesterday's press conference, Flick clarified that he will not test his squad with a reserve lineup, but will instead present an eleven made up of the usual starters, although without ruling out partial rotations to manage the players' playing time.
Barça's main objective is the match against PSG that will be played the following week, so Flick has decided to prioritize the physical preparation and recovery of his players. Since last Tuesday, the team has had time to recover from the Champions League match, which has allowed the changes in the starting eleven not to be massive. It is expected that some players who did not appear in the starting lineup for the match against Galatasaray in Türkiye will be able to return to the main squad.
In the defensive zone, Flick could return to the usual full-backs, Koundé and XaviEspart, and Eric, who played for Getafe the previous day. In the midfield, the coach has several options and will not rule out the role of Gavi, who could be the key player against his former club. Up front, LamineYamal seems to be secure on the right wing, while Adeyemi could occupy the other wing. GabrielJesús, who had a satisfactory performance against Getafe, could also receive a new opportunity in the lineup.
As for the forward, Flick has mentioned that Raphinha and Frenkie are on the list, but that they will have to wait to break into the starting eleven. In the midfield, the choice between Olmo and Fermín remains open, although Fermín could repeat in the starting eleven because Olmo was not a starter in the last game against Getafe. In defense, the combination of Eric and PauCubarsí also remains a viable option.
With the aim of keeping his squad in shape and prepared for the upcoming matches, Flick has decided that the match against Betis will be an opportunity for the starting players to show their quality and stay in shape for the next phase of the competition. Barcelona is preparing for a demanding match at La Cartuja, with the intention of consolidating its position in the table and maintaining pressure on its rivals.