Barcelona is hitting the pitch against Valencia this Sunday, looking to keep their absolutely flawless La Liga start rolling. Hansi Flick’s squad has been nothing short of perfect to kick off the new campaign, snatching up wins in all three matches and staking their claim as early frontrunners for the title. They tore it up with a dominant 5-0 away victory over Elche CF, followed that up with a composed 2-0 win at home against Athletic Club, and then kept the scoring spree going last weekend with a thrilling 5-2 home triumph over Rayo Vallecano.
Squad Boosts and Injury Woes
Heading into the clash at Mestalla, there’s a serious buzz around the Barcelona camp. They pulled off a massive administrative win, officially registering high-profile summer arrivals Gabriel Jesus and goalkeeper Dominik Livaković, making them available for the matchday squad. But the real emotional and tactical shot in the arm comes in midfield: Gavi is back, baby! After a long absence, his return is a huge lift. There was a brief scare when young star Lamine Yamal sat out a full training session due to a slight knock, but Flick confirmed the winger is totally fit and ready to be in the starting lineup. That’s huge news for the attack.
Of course, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. The injury list still includes Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji, both sidelined with knee problems. Academy talent Jesse Bisiwu is also unavailable. Still, even with these absences, Barcelona is stacked. The squad has considerable depth, which they’ll lean on. Joan Garcia is expected to start between the posts, and the attacking line is looking spicy with Raphinha leading the charge, supported by Yamal and Fermín López, plus Gordon. Here’s how it’s looking: J Garcia; E Garcia, Cubarsi, Martin, Espart; Pedri, Bernal; Yamal, Fermin, Gordon; Raphinha.
What’s Next for the Blaugrana?
This Sunday’s match against Valencia kicks off at 3:15pm BST, and fans in the UK can catch all the action live on Premier Sports 2. Can Barcelona really keep this incredible streak alive? Every game is a chance to solidify their position at the top and send a clear message to the rest of La Liga. Get ready, because the Blaugrana are on a mission, and it feels like they’re just getting started.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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