Flick’s Joan Gamper Trophy decisions offer clear hint at Barcelona’s starting XI against Elche | OneFootball

Hansi Flick did not need to spell it out after Barcelona’s 2-1 win over Al Ahly in the Joan Gamper Trophy. 

His team selections throughout pre-season have already started to reveal how he is thinking ahead of Sunday’s La Liga opener against Elche, reports Mundo Deportivo.

Fitness remains a major factor, as several players who would normally expect to be part of Barcelona’s strongest XI are not yet fully ready, forcing Flick to look at the options available to him.

That has made the recent friendlies particularly useful. Some players have been trusted repeatedly, while others have been tested in different roles. 

The Gamper Trophy offered another look at Flick’s plans and one substitution in attack may have been more significant than it first appeared.

Pre-season choices have built spine of his Elche XI

The clearest signs have come in midfield and defence.

Joan Garcia looks set to continue in goal, while Eric Garcia has established himself as the leading option at right-back. 

Gerard Martin also appears to have earned Flick’s trust, with Andreas Christensen expected to partner him in central defence.

Eric Garcia will be Flick’s right-back against Elche. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Alejandro Balde’s return during the Gamper Trophy match was another positive sign and could put him in line to start at left-back against Elche.

The midfield picture appears even more settled.

Marc Bernal has been consistently used as the central figure, with Xavi Espart and Fermin Lopez emerging as the two players most likely to complete the trio. 

Flick’s selections throughout pre-season suggest that this combination has become one of the strongest possibilities for the opening game.

Barcelona’s starting XI vs Elche may therefore look very different from the side fans would expect once every player is fully fit. 

But with fitness levels still shaping Flick’s decisions, the coach appears ready to reward those who have been most available and most consistent during the summer.

Gordon’s striker role could be Flick’s biggest Elche clue

The attack remains the area with the most unanswered questions.

Raphinha will retain his place. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Raphinha appears certain to start, while the battle for the other wide role could come down to Karim Adeyemi and Lamine Yamal. 

Adeyemi has the advantage of having featured regularly under Flick during pre-season, but Lamine’s quality makes him impossible to ignore.

The more interesting decision concerns the centre-forward position.

Hamza Abdelkarim has been Flick’s most frequently used option as a striker during the friendlies. Yet when the Egyptian was taken off against Al Ahly, it was Anthony Gordon who moved into the central role.

That switch could be an important hint.

Flick has spent much of pre-season testing different solutions at No. 9 and Gordon’s introduction through the middle in the Gamper Trophy suggests he could be another genuine option for the role against Elche.

That does not necessarily mean Hamza has lost his place, but the substitution showed that Flick is willing to consider Gordon as a central reference when needed.