FC Barcelona Predicted Line Up Versus Valencia In La Liga Opener

FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick promised that things "will be different" at the Mestalla when his ... [+] team takes on Valencia in its La Liga 2024/2025 opening debut on Saturday.

FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick promised that things "will be different" at the Mestalla when his team takes on Valencia in its La Liga 2024/2025 season opening debut on Saturday.

The German was speaking after AS Monaco spoiled Barca's Joan Gamper Trophy party.

After having not lost the fixture where squad members are introduced to the public - with Frenkie de Jong and Clement Lenglet booed in this instance - for 12 years, the Blaugrana was thrashed 3-0 by its French visitors.

SPORT laid into Barca for playing "without spark, without intensity, without pressure, [and] without speed".

"There is no mobility, the circulation of the ball is very slow and on top of that the team is showing a very soft defence.

"Five days until the [La Liga] debut in Valencia, the feelings are not good at all," the newspaper added as part of its play-by-play match commentary.

In response to such criticism, however, Flick said: "I know what this team can do. It wasn't our game, we weren't good, but in Valencia we'll do it differently. I'm sure we'll have another [kind of] performance."

"The time to lose is now. Better than during the season," Flick added. "When you lose 0-3 it's not easy for the referees, but the atmosphere at Montjuic has been fantastic."

"When we play fast, the reaction of the crowd is perfect, so we have to provoke that emotion from the pitch."

Because of injuries to the likes of Ronald Araujo, Pedri, Gavi and a Frenkie de Jong who it is believed is running down his contract, Barca's team in the Mestalla might not look that different to the one that lined up in the Gamper - though there are considerable changes in midfield.

The defence looks the same, however, with captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen having his goal protected by a back line of Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen, Inigo Martinez and Alejandro Balde from right to left.

Flick will again trust in the young Marcs Bernal and Casado for his double pivot in a 4-2-3-1.

Ilkay Gundogan comes into start as does Lamine Yamal - who is hopefully in a better place mentally than on Wednesday night when his father was stabbed - and they replace Pablo Torre and Pau Victor respectively while Robert Lewandowski is the central number 9.

FC Barcelona Predicted First XI Vs. Valencia: Ter Stegen; Kounde, Christensen, Inigo, Balde; Marc Bernal, Casado, Gundogan, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha; Lewandowski.