Injury Woes Force Flick to Rethink as Barça Prepare for Oviedo Test
With a key match looming against newly promoted Real Oviedo, coach Hansi Flick must juggle injuries and reshuffle his squad as Barça seek to maintain their momentum in La Liga.
Barcelona head into this fixture following a commanding 3–0 victory over Getafe, part of a three-game winning streak since the international break during which they’ve netted 11 goals.
Yet the squad has been hit hard by injuries: Lamine Yamal, Alejandro Balde, and Fermín López remain sidelined, while Gavi is out for up to five months after knee surgery.
To cope, Flick is expected to deploy a 4–2–3–1 formation with a few adjustments:
In goal: Joan García, the summer signing, will look to notch another clean sheet.
Defence: Jules Koundé at right-back; Eric García and Pau Cubarsí as center-backs; Gerard Martín covering at left.
Midfield: Frenkie de Jong and Pedri as double pivot, with Pedri likely to act as the team’s tempo-setter.
Attack: Raphinha on the right wing, Dani Olmo centrally, and Marcus Rashford on the left, the latter stepping in for Yamal.
Up front: Ferran Torres, in excellent form (scoring four in La Liga so far), is expected to lead the line.
Barça will hope that this patchwork lineup can hold steady against Oviedo, a club they haven’t faced since spring 2001, and keep pressure on league leaders Real Madrid as the season intensifies.