Barcelona’s Strong Start Faces Sevilla Test
Barcelona’s perfect start to the La Liga season faces one of its sternest tests tonight at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, where an unpredictable Sevilla and a hostile stadium wait to examine Hansi Flick’s early work.
Six games, six wins, 18 points. The numbers tell one story. The way Barcelona have been playing tells an even louder one: front-foot football, aggressive pressing, and an attack that has been carving opponents open with regularity.
Now comes a different kind of challenge.
Szczesny steps in, Flick reshuffles
The biggest call belongs to the man on the touchline. All signs point to Wojciech Szczesny starting in goal, with the 36-year-old Pole set to replace the injured Joan Garcia, who is out with a right-knee problem.
Flick refused to give a definitive confirmation on Friday. He didn’t need to. His post-match comments after the midweek win over Racing Santander made his thinking clear enough: this is Szczesny’s night.
That decision is only one part of a broader shake-up. As reported by “Mundo Deportivo”, Flick plans several changes to his starting XI, something he openly acknowledged in his pre-match press conference. One of those changes is non-negotiable: Cubarsi comes into the side and will start in central defence.
The teenager’s inclusion is locked in. Who plays next to him is not.
Battle for the back line, chances in midfield
Eric Garcia is one of the certainties. The defender is firmly among Flick’s trusted core, alongside Rodri, Pedri, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. Around that spine, the competition is fierce.
At centre-back, Gerard Martin and Andreas Christensen are locked in a straight fight to partner Cubarsi. Martin offers energy and aggression, Christensen brings experience and composure. Flick’s choice there will say a lot about how boldly he wants to approach a tricky away game.
On the flanks and in midfield, fresh legs are coming. Marc Casado, Fermin Lopez and Anthony Gordon, all rested in the previous outing, are expected to be handed their chance from the start against Sevilla. It’s a clear signal: Flick wants intensity, running, and players who can sustain Barcelona’s pressing game for 90 minutes.
That, in turn, pushes some big names towards the bench. Joao Cancelo, Dani Olmo and Karim Adeyemi are all candidates to drop out of the XI. They are likely to be joined among the substitutes by Egyptian striker Hamza Abdelkarim, who will have to wait for his opportunity to influence the contest.
If Flick follows the current plan, Barcelona could line up like this:
Szczesny; Eric Garcia, Cubarsi, Gerard Martin, Espart; Rodri, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Anthony Gordon; Raphinha.
It’s a side built for pace and verticality, with Yamal and Raphinha stretching the pitch and Gordon driving at defenders, while Pedri and Rodri dictate the rhythm behind them.
Sevilla’s absences and boosts
Sevilla do not come into this clash at full strength. Belgian forward Lucas Stassin misses out with a muscle injury, removing one of their attacking options. Ruben Vargas is also still sidelined, leaving the hosts short of depth in the final third.
The defensive news is brighter. Senegalese defender Aroura Sangante has recovered from an ankle sprain and is back in contention, a significant boost against a Barcelona attack in full flow. Central defender Kike Salas is also available, despite taking a knock to his right leg during the Riazor clash and sitting out Thursday’s training session.
Those returns matter. Sevilla will need every ounce of defensive resilience they can muster if they are to disrupt Barcelona’s early-season surge.
Barcelona arrive in Seville with momentum, confidence and a coach unafraid to make bold calls. The question now is simple: can Flick’s reshaped XI keep the streak alive in one of Spain’s most unforgiving arenas?
