Barcelona youngster set for a surprise start at left-back vs Elche CF | OneFootball

FC Barcelona are looking for a positive start to the season as they take on Elche CF in their opening game.

There has been some notable exclusions in the squad heading into this contest, with Hansi Flick notably leaving out Alejandro Balde, Marc Casado and Hector Fort.

All the three players are expected to leave the club by the end of the summer transfer window, which means the squad called up for the Elche game is the team Flick is working with.

Given that this is the first game of the new season, it won’t be surprising to see Flick take some bold calls on the pitch either.

Xavi Espart to start at left-back?

Espart could be set for a surprise start. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

According to ESPN journalist Moises Llorens, one of those bold calls could see Xavi Espart starting as a left-back for Barcelona this evening.

The young right-back has impressed a lot in pre-season and has been preferred to the likes of Fort, with many expecting him to become the next breakout star from La Masia.

Tonight he might get that opportunity but in a left-back role, given that new signing Joao Cancelo has just joined the team while Balde has been left out.

While Cancelo has admitted he is ready to play, Flick might want to hold the Portuguese international back on this occasion.

A glorious opportunity

All eyes will be on Espart this evening. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

A potential start against Elche could serve as a massive opportunity for Espart to prove himself at the highest level of football.

Given Barcelona’s lack of depth in the fullback department, Espart has a golden opportunity to carve out a name for himself and possibly even make a breakthrough reminiscent of Pau Cubarsi.

Therefore, it will be interesting to see if Espart can thrive in the left-back position, provided he does indeed get the start ahead of Cancelo at left-back.

Elsewhere in the Barcelona backline, Llorens expects Eric Garcia to operate at right-back, with Gerard Martin and Jules Kounde forming the central defensive pairing.