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Elche vs Barcelona: La Liga – prediction, team news, lineups

Barcelona start their season at Elche in La Liga on Sunday but will do so without their new signing, Rodri.

Source: Al Jazeera · August 22, 2026 at 4:31 PM · AI-assisted report

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MADRID, 23 AUGUST 2026 —

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Barcelona Face Elche Without Rodri as La Liga Season Kicks Off

Barcelona will begin their La Liga title defence at Elche on Sunday without midfielder Rodri, who remains sidelined due to injury.

Hansi Flick’s second season at the Catalan club followed his successful debut campaign, which saw Barcelona secure back-to-back La Liga titles. His third season, however, presents fresh challenges as the club aims to maintain domestic dominance while fending off Real Madrid’s challenge under Jose Mourinho. Barcelona also seek to end their seven-year wait for a Champions League trophy.

The absence of Rodri, signed from Manchester City for a reported fee, is a significant blow. The Spain captain was a key target for both Barcelona and Real Madrid before his move to Catalonia. His arrival was intended to bolster Barcelona’s midfield control and defensive stability, areas of vulnerability since Flick took charge in 2024. Rodri’s experience in winning major trophies, including the World Cup, was seen as crucial to Barcelona’s European ambitions.

“He’s very concentrated, focused. Our plan is that he will arrive on Monday with the team,” Flick told reporters on Saturday. Rodri may feature in Barcelona’s next match against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday, though his immediate availability remains uncertain.

Barcelona’s attacking reshuffle continues with the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. New signings Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi have been integrated into Flick’s high-intensity pressing system, offering pace and work rate. However, the club’s search for a traditional centre-forward remains unresolved after failed attempts to sign Julian Alvarez. Sporting director Deco acknowledged the challenge: “What Ferran did we can cover with the signings, but what Robert did is more difficult.”

Flick has options to adapt, with Dani Olmo, Raphinha, Gordon, and Adeyemi capable of playing as false nines. The form of teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, already a pivotal figure at 19, will be critical to Barcelona’s success. Yamal’s injury concerns in previous seasons make his consistency vital for the club’s ambitions.

Elche, meanwhile, will be without Adam Boayar and Yago Santiago due to injury. Martin Anselmi’s side, which drew 1-1 with Deportivo in their opening weekend fixture, is expected to deploy a three-man defensive system against Barcelona. The Opta supercomputer rates Barcelona as strong favourites, giving them a 68% chance of victory compared to Elche’s 14%.

This match marks the 57th competitive meeting between the clubs, with Barcelona holding a dominant record of 36 wins to Elche’s nine. Barcelona last defeated Elche 3-1 in La Liga in January, with Yamal, Ferran Torres, and Marcus Rashford scoring. Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji remain unavailable for Barcelona, though Joao Cancelo, signed this week, could make his debut.

Details not yet available on potential lineups or tactical adjustments for Sunday’s fixture.

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Reporting based on Al Jazeera. Figures and claims are subject to revision as the story develops. DomainFork publishes editorial context, not investment advice — see our editorial standards.