Dani Olmo must wait for his Barcelona debut ahead of the Catalan club’s 2024/25 season-opening La Liga clash with Valencia at the Mestalla.
Barcelona will aim to begin the 2024/25 La Liga season with a bang when they lock horns with Valencia at the Mestalla on Saturday night. And Hansi Flick has several injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his first league game in charge of the Catalan club.
Ronaldo Araujo, Gavi, and Frenkie de Jong are long-term absentees for Barcelona, with Araujo unlikely to play again in 2024. Meanwhile, Ansu Fati remains on the sidelines, while Pedri is inching closer to returning to action.
Meanwhile, summer signing Dani Olmo was one of the talking points in Hansi Flick’s pre-match press conference. The German tactician revealed that the Spanish international would unlikely feature on Saturday. Flick also addressed questions on Pedri and other injured players.
The Barcelona manager said, “He [Olmo] is not in adequate physical condition for tomorrow. He started training late. Pedri is a special player, he changes games. He could be an option for the second half tomorrow. Lamine could play tomorrow.”
“After the international break, there will be many more players available. I’m optimistic, but there’s still time. We have more players available in the team and I hope they can return, but I don’t have a set date for their return. Their recovery is on track. I am satisfied with the squad. When I signed my contract I knew it wouldn’t be easy but I trust the club.”
With Pedri not fit enough to start against Valencia, the inexperienced duo of Marc Casado and Pablo Torre should accompany Ilkay Gundogan in the Barcelona midfield. Lamine Yamal should take his spot in the final third despite featuring in the UEFA Euro 2024 final a few weeks ago.
The teenage sensation will join Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha in the final third, with Ferran Torres an option on the bench. New club captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen will take his usual spot between the sticks. Finally, the backline should feature Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen, Pau Cubarsi, and Alejandro Balde.
Predicted Barcelona XI: ter Stegen; Kounde, Christensen, Cubarsi, Balde; Gundogan, Casado, Torre; Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha
