Barcelona 2025/26 Preview: Flick’s Champions Target Back-to-Back La Liga Titles | OneFootball

Barcelona must stave off competition from Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid to retain their La Liga crown.

The Catalans dominated the Spanish top flight last term to claim the title, mullering Los Blancos across two legs while leaving Los Colchoneros in their wake.

Manager Hansi Flick arrived last summer, desperate to repair his reputation after an unsavoury time in charge of the Germany national team.

He inherited a young team. The club’s financial books were in tatters, which limited the ability to make big-money additions.

Flick rolled up his sleeves and got to work. He trusted his youthful side and ingrained his philosophy of relentless attacking football.

He unleashed Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal upon opponents with the mercurial Pedri behind them, and the rest was history.

However, Barca’s rivals are reinforcing furiously while the cash-strapped champions watch, setting the stage for an intriguing 2025/26 campaign.

Read on as we preview Barcelona’s 2025/26 season.

Barcelona Fixtures

Barcelona’s title defence begins away to RCD Mallorca on August 17, but fans must wait until mid-September for a grand Camp Nou return, when Valencia visit for the first home game.

The La Liga fixture list shows a tricky start, with three straight away games, followed by a potentially season-defining autumn stretch.

During that period, Barcelona take on Girona at home before the first El Clasico of the season at the Santiago Bernabeu on October 26.

There are spicy subplots when Barca clash with Athletic Club on November 23 and March 8.

Athletic’s Nico Williams was close to joining Barca again before signing a new deal.

The Espanyol derbies on January 4 and April 12 will be emotionally charged following Joan Garcia’s controversial switch.

The final weeks of the season are intense, with Barca facing Atletico (April 5), Espanyol (April 12) and Madrid (May 10) before closing out away to Valencia on May 24.

If the title race is tight, they’ll need to be near-perfect down the stretch.

Manager

Flick must keep this team fresh and unpredictable after their remarkable run to the title last season.

While they had an element of surprise last season, every team in the top flight will be wary of the dangers Barca pose next term. They will be ready to fight fire with fire.

As formidable as they are in attack, this team remains defensively susceptible, and it does not help that the club sold its best defender last season, Inigo Martinez.

Barca will rely on the injury-prone pairing of Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen. Pau Cubarsi should have had experienced leaders guiding him while playing fewer games.

He might have to assume even more responsibility next season. Flick must work out how to close the gaps in defence, especially when they hold their high line.

Flick’s risky template yielded remarkable results last term, but teams will be looking to exploit that chink in their armour if the manager does not somehow tactically improve the rearguard.

Transfers

Barcelona’s less-than-ideal financial situation has limited their operations in the transfer market this summer.

After missing out on Luis Diaz and Williams, they eventually signed Marcus Rashford on loan, eager to revive his career in Spain under Flick’s ultra-attacking football.

Rashford is already proving to be a lethal weapon in attack in his early pre-season showings, as he can cover for Raphinha on the left and Lewandowski.

Roony Bardghji is expected to deputise for Yamal on the right flank. The talented youngster could develop into a fine attacker.

Barcelona signed Garcia from city rivals Espanyol. The young goalkeeper should take the starting berth from Wojciech Szczesny.

Goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen is being punished and was stripped of his captaincy.

Barcelona should be trying to sign a new right-back and centre-back, but their finances are preventing them from filling those gaps in their squad.

Starting XI

Barcelona retained most of the first-teamers from last season’s triumph, but there will likely be a new man in goal as Garcia starts his story with the historic club.

A rearguard of Jules Kounde, interim captain Araujo, Cubarsi and Alejandro Balde will hope to be more resolute. It could make all the difference next season.

Even though the backline is paper-thin, Flick has options in the engine room. He should stick with Pedri, in-form Gavi, and Frenkie De Jong at the base.

Flick has Rashford as another option to call upon to fill in for the established attacking trio.

Raphinha, Lewandowski and Yamal strike fear into any defence. They will be decisive for Barca next season.

Predicted XI:

Garcia; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; Pedri, De Jong, Gavi; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Yamal.

Star Player

Raphinha accumulated more goal contributions last season, but this is now Yamal’s team. The teenager, especially towards the end of last season, was unplayable.

Yamal in full flight is a terrifying sight for any defence, and he has picked up from where he left off in pre-season. He will decimate La Liga teams this season.

Even if others deliver more end-product, his ability to gut teams makes him arguably the best winger in the world right now.

The 18-year-old has the world at his feet and can only improve. He is the chief creator in this team and the man to double up on to curtail the Catalans.

If Barcelona defend their title, it will be because Yamal took them there. He is not just a talent. He is the difference-maker.

Prediction

Barcelona are favourites to lift the La Liga title, and it’s hard to argue otherwise.

Flick’s men were rampant last season, dismantling rivals with their blistering attack and controlling the big games with surprising maturity for such a young group.

While Madrid are still adjusting to life under Xabi Alonso and Atletico lack consistency, Barca’s core remains intact and hungry.

Yamal is on the brink of superstardom, Lewandowski still knows where the net is, and Rashford is a smart pick-up.

Flick’s ultra-attacking set-up leaves gaps, but few teams can survive the wave after wave of pressure Barcelona impose when in rhythm.

Unless injuries pile up or the defence completely unravels, there’s enough firepower to blast through La Liga again.

Madrid may get closer, but the Catalans are too strong up top. They are also improving. Expect more domestic glory come May.

Prediction: Champions.

How to watch Barcelona live this season

In the UK, Premier Sports have secured the majority of La Liga tv rights for this season, and can be accessed via Sky Sports and Prime Video. Disney+ holds the rights for the Saturday night La Liga fixture. Prime Video and TNT Sports will be showing Champions League football in the UK. Here is more information on how to live stream Barcelona matches in UK and around the world.

Also Read: La Liga 2025/26 preview: Can Barcelona stave off Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid to retain the crown?