Barcelona XI vs Mallorca: Rashford debut, predicted lineup, confirmed team news for La Liga today

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Evening Standard

·16 August 2025

Barcelona XI vs Mallorca: Rashford debut, predicted lineup, confirmed team news for La Liga today

Rashford could lead the line for Barcelona this evening

Marcus Rashford could make his competitive debut for Barcelona in their La Liga opener against Mallorca.

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The Manchester United loanee has been registered just in time to be included in Hansi Flick’s matchday squad, with goalkeeper Joan Garcia another late addition amid the club’s ongoing issues with adhering to the Spanish top flight’s salary limits.

With Wojciech Szczesny still yet to be registered for this season and Marc-Andre ter Stegen ruled out with a long-term back injury, the former Espanyol shot-stopper is expected to get the nod in between the posts.

Jules Kounde should return at right-back, with Alejandro Balde on the opposite flank. The central defensive pairing is likely to be Ronald Araujo - benefitting from the summer departure of Inigo Martinez to Al-Nassr - and impressive teenager Pau Cubarsi.

In the middle of the park, Pedri and Frenkie de Jong are expected to start behind Fermin Lopez - who scored twice in Barca’s final -pre-season match, a 5-0 win over Como - in a midfield trio, with new No10 Lamine Yamal on the right wing and Raphinha on the left.

Robert Lewandowski is ruled out through injury while attacking midfielder Dani Olmo is another doubt despite being included in the squad. If he’s recovered from the muscular issue that sidelined him against Como, the ex-RB Leipzig man could replace Lopez in the XI.

In Lewandowski’s absence, meanwhile, former Manchester City forward Ferran Torres is perhaps the likeliest player to lead the line for Barca, having done so successfully on several occasions last season when the veteran Pole was out.

Ruled out: Robert Lewandowski

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Rashford is another option for Flick up top, and probably has a better chance of getting minutes there than he does on the wings with Raphinha and Yamal present. But it is possible the England international may have to settle for a substitute appearance, given the breadth of attacking options at the Barca boss’s disposal.

Barcelona predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Garcia; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Lopez, Raphinha; Torres

Injured: Lewandowski, Ter Stegen

Doubts: Olmo

Time and date: 6.30pm BST today, Saturday, August 16, 2025

Venue: Estadi Mallorca Son Moix