The Spanish newspaper "Mundo Deportivo" highlighted the competition for starting positions in FC Barcelona's lineup during the current 2026/27 season under coach Hans Flick.
Barcelona has played three matches so far in the La Liga season, achieving a 100% win rate against Elche, Athletic Bilbao, and Rayo Vallecano.
"Mundo Deportivo" reported that the competition to secure a starting spot in any of Barcelona's positions is extremely fierce this season. Securing a place in the starting eleven at Camp Nou has never been easy or predictable, but the competition is significantly more intense in the current campaign.
The newspaper explained that Hans Flick possesses a squad rich in talent, experience, and young players. He has individuals capable of shouldering responsibility and deciding matches with confidence. However, talent alone is insufficient; players must prove themselves and meet the German coach's expectations.
It noted that Juan García is the only player guaranteed a spot as goalkeeper, while Szczęsny serves as the backup and has readily accepted his role. Meanwhile, Livaković has recently joined, and for all other positions, nothing is certain.
The report stated that a group comprising João Cancelo, Alejandro Balde, Pau Cubarsí, Christensen, Jules Koundé, Eric García, Gerard Martín, and Xavi Esparito represents a wealth of defensive options in that sector.
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Eric García started the current season at right-back but relinquished his place to Koundé by the third match. In central defense, Christensen featured in the starting lineup twice, while Esparito has cemented his position at left-back. That spot was previously thought to be reserved for Cancelo, whereas Balde found himself on the bench.
Competition in midfield is intense, featuring Pedri, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Fermín López, Marc Bernal, Rodri, and Bryan Farinas. All possess diverse skills, and everyone remains a strong candidate to start, except for the injured De Jong.
In the attacking line, the team boasts Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Gabriel Jesus, Karim Adeyemi, and Anthony Gordon, forming a forward unit characterized by speed, talent, and scoring ability.
Lamine Yamal and Raphinha have started all three matches and appear to be the only two with secured spots. Jesus joins the squad to add experience and movement, while Adeyemi contributes speed, alongside Gordon. This intense competition drives each player to maximize every minute available to them.
Beyond this, Barcelona possesses young talents like Jesse Picio and Hamza Abdulkarim. Both have participated in first-team training sessions, with the latter appearing as a substitute against Vallecano, serving as evidence of the club's commitment to nurturing young talent.
