According to analysis from camel.live, Hansi Flick revealed more clues about the league opener in the Gamper Trophy than during the Asia Tour, but he created an unexpected question by fueling competition between Eric and Koundé for the right-back spot.
In the Gamper Trophy, Ronald Araujo and Pau Cubarsí partnered at center-back, with young Catalan Cubarsí taking the left center-back role following Inigo’s departure.
Fermín has overtaken the injured Dani Olmo in the attacking midfielder position, while Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres have been deployed as "number 9s" due to Robert Lewandowski’s injury.
Unlike his approach during the Asia Tour—where Flick distributed minutes in three friendly matches almost mathematically, ensuring no player exceeded 50% playing time—Flick showed his hand in the Gamper Trophy. He made substitutions later in the game, bringing the preseason to a close.
In terms of results, Barcelona achieved a perfect four-match winning record, scoring 20 goals (5 per game) and conceding only 4 (1 per game). Barça defeated Vissel Kobe 3-1 in Japan, beat Seoul 7-3 and Daegu 5-0 in South Korea, then thrashed Como 5-0 at the Johan Cruyff Stadium. With official competitions approaching, the starting lineup has gradually taken shape.
New signing Joan García, the goalkeeper who recently joined from Espanyol, topped the team’s preseason minutes with 225 minutes on the pitch. This clearly signals he is Flick’s choice in goal. The message remains clear even with Marc-André ter Stegen sidelined by injury and Iñaki Peña (available for transfer) yet to feature. Wojciech Szczęsny (120 minutes) will serve as backup. However, Peña remains the only registered goalkeeper so far. The club hopes to complete Joan García’s registration amid optimism and a touch of suspense.
Cubarsí, who was symbolically substituted late in the last two matches, has emerged as a defensive core, ranking second in the team with 221 total minutes played. As seen against Como, despite being right-footed, he will occupy the left center-back position vacated by Inigo Martínez. This is not new for Barça—Flick experimented with shifting left-back Gerard Martínez into the center as an alternative during the Asia Tour.
Following Joan García and Cubarsí, several regulars have also logged consistent minutes: Lamine Yamal (who scored 4 preseason goals), Raphinha, Araujo, and Alejandro Balde (all with 212 minutes), plus Pedri (201 minutes). Beyond this, playing time has been more fragmented due to injuries or precautionary measures.
Thus, considering this summer’s involvement, Flick’s tactical approach from last season, and some unexpected situations, Barcelona’s projected starting lineup against Mallorca is likely: Joan García; Koundé or Eric, Araujo, Cubarsí, Balde; Frenkie de Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Fermín, Raphinha; Ferran.
In the absence list, Lewandowski suffered a left biceps femoris injury last week and will definitely miss the new season’s opener. Rashford played as center-forward in the Gamper Trophy but has lower registration priority than Joan García, so he may not be available in time. Ferran has earned Flick’s trust, and his substitute appearance against Como may have been due to a minor injury that has troubled him since the Asia Tour.
Olmo, the attacking midfielder, was rested in the Gamper Trophy due to muscle fatigue but is expected to return for the league opener. However, given his injury history, the team will remain cautious—especially after Fermín scored twice against Como to strongly compete for the starting role in that position.
An unexpected question mark hangs over the right-back position. Eric García, the center-back converted to full-back, started in the Gamper Trophy, while Koundé was on the bench. Although the Frenchman performed impressively last season and was considered the first choice, Eric also shone when filling in for the injured Koundé at the end of last season. In midfield, despite similar preseason minutes this summer, De Jong holds a slight edge over Gavi and Marc Casadó.
