Flick confirms the absences

Barcelona will play their first home game of the season under difficult circumstances. Coach Hansi Flick released the squad list for the match against Valencia and confirmed that both Lamine Yamal and Frenkie de Jong will miss out.

The young winger has been ruled out due to pubic discomfort he has carried since joining up with the Spanish national team. Flick openly criticized the management of his player during the international break: “He went with pain and still played over 70 minutes in each match. That is not taking care of the players,” the German coach said.

Meanwhile, De Jong will also be unavailable. The Dutch midfielder picked up a minor injury to the external obturator muscle in his right leg while on duty with the Netherlands. Although he has already trained partially with the group, he was left out of the squad as a precaution.

The return of Marc Bernal

The silver lining for the Catalan club is the return of Marc Bernal. The 19-year-old academy product has been cleared to play after spending a full year sidelined with a serious knee injury suffered against Rayo Vallecano in the third round of last season. Having trained with the squad in recent weeks, Bernal will now take a spot on the bench. “It’s a big step in his recovery,” noted Flick.

However, the list of absentees doesn’t end there. Barcelona will also be without Gavi, who continues a conservative treatment for his knee injury, though surgery is still an option depending on his progress. Alejandro Balde remains out with a hamstring issue, and goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen is still recovering from his own fitness problems.

A demanding test at home

The clash against Valencia will take place at the Johan Cruyff Stadium, with a reduced capacity of 6,000 fans, as the Spotify Camp Nou is not yet ready to reopen. Despite the injuries, Flick made it clear that excuses will not be accepted: the team must stay focused and fight for the three points.

Facing a side coached by Carlos Corberán, Barcelona will need contributions from younger players and reserves to avoid slipping in LaLiga. The German coach’s message is direct: the blaugrana squad must compete with what they have and show character in a match that could prove pivotal in restoring confidence.