Lewandowski, Christensen start in a 4-2-3-1 – How Barcelona can line up against Valencia | OneFootball

With the La Liga title already wrapped up, Barcelona head into their final game of the 2025/26 campaign with little pressure but plenty of storylines surrounding the squad. 

One of the biggest positives for Barcelona this season has not only been the trophies but also the growth of the squad as a whole. 

Flick has managed to create competition in nearly every position, and that could become crucial next year when the pressure increases again.

Meanwhile, the Catalan giants travel to face Valencia on the back of another dominant domestic season under Hansi Flick, and the German coach now appears ready to reward several fringe players and young talents with minutes.

Barcelona’s recent record against Valencia paints a worrying picture for the hosts.

Simply put, the Blaugrana have avoided defeat in their last 12 meetings across all competitions and have rarely struggled against Los Che in league action over the last decade. 

Momentum is also on Barcelona’s side after their recent 3-1 victory over Real Betis pushed them to 94 points, leaving them comfortably ahead of rivals Real Madrid in the standings.

With the title celebrations already underway and the FIFA World Cup approaching as well, Barcelona are unlikely to risk key names unnecessarily. 

This means several regular starters could be given a well-earned rest.

Defence

Christensen could start his first game in 2026. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

In goal, veteran goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny is expected to return to the starting lineup after sitting out the previous match. 

That decision could also allow Joan Garcia to officially secure the Zamora Trophy following an outstanding league campaign.

The defence may look very different from Barcelona’s strongest setup. Youngster Xavi Espart could feature at right-back while Alejandro Balde could return on the left. 

In central defence, Andreas Christensen is tipped to make a rare start alongside Gerard Martin. 

That would likely leave important names like Pau Cubarsi, Jules Kounde and Joao Cancelo on the bench.

Midfield

Changes are also expected in midfield, as Marc Casado and Marc Bernal are both pushing for starts. 

Meanwhile, Frenkie de Jong could return after recovering from illness and being left out of the previous two matches. However, he might make an appearance late in the game.

Casado is set for a rare start too. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Further forward, Barcelona may once again rely on Dani Olmo to operate behind the striker due to the absence of Fermin Lopez through injury.

Attack

The attack itself could carry the biggest emotional angle of the night. 

This is because Robert Lewandowski is preparing for his final appearance in a Barcelona shirt. 

The Polish striker is expected to lead the line with highly-rated winger Roony Bardghji and Marcus Rashford potentially starting out wide.

That setup would allow stars such as Raphinha and Ferran Torres to rest before international duty begins next month.