Official: Surprise absence as Barcelona name squad to face Real Sociedad | OneFootball

La Liga champions Barcelona have on Sunday afternoon announced the club’s latest matchday squad.

And it features one somewhat surprising absentee.

Barcelona are of course primed to return to action later this evening, in a league meeting with Real Sociedad.

The Blaugrana head into the matchup aware that another three-point haul would see them leapfrog Real Madrid into top spot in the Spanish top-flight.

In efforts towards as much, Hansi Flick and co. will be forced to make do without a number of important players, with the likes of Gavi, Fermín López, Raphinha and Joan García all unavailable through injury.

Also absent for the evening, meanwhile, is Alejandro Balde.

The left-back was widely expected to be welcomed back into Barcelona’s matchday setup on Sunday, with Hansi Flick having even hinted in his pre-match press conference that Balde could see some minutes on the pitch.

His complete omission versus Sociedad has therefore turned heads.

More positive news, on the other hand, comes in the form of the return of Lamine Yamal to Hansi Flick’s squad.

Conor Laird – GSFN