Joan García, starter in his debut with Barça: And Rashford?

The wait to see FC Barcelona in action again is over. The Blaugrana team debuts on the Asian tour against Vissel Kobe with Joan García as the main novelty in a line-up with a couple of surprises from Hansi Flick, but with a majority of the, in theory, undisputed players.

The Catalan goalkeeper, the first culé reinforcement for 25/26, makes his debut as a starter after his great season with Espanyol. The 24-year-old goalkeeper was the leader in saves (146) in the last League and, as expected, starts as the first option ahead of Wojciech Szczesny.

The Pole closed a great second half of the season and renewed for two years, but will be Joan's substitute, waiting to resolve the registration of both. With Ter Stegen injured, for now Iñaki Peña is the only registered goalkeeper with a first team contract. The Alicante native, therefore, traveled to the tour while waiting for an offer that allows him to leave the club.

Joan García debuts in the XI: Rashford, to the bench

Unlike Joan García, Barça's other brand new reinforcement this summer, Marcus Rashford, debuts as a substitute in the preseason. Flick, logically, keeps the Englishman on the bench, since he has only accumulated a couple of training sessions with the squad after his official announcement last Tuesday.

Roony Bardghji will also wait for his opportunity in the second half, who hopes to add quality minutes to convince the coaching staff to keep him in the squad. The Swede signed with a reserve team contract and, if he does not earn the coach's trust, he will probably leave on loan.

In this way, Barça will take to the Misaki Park Stadium in Kobe, in front of a crowd of more than 30,000 spectators, with the following XI:

1. (#01) Joan García (G.)
2. (#24) Eric García
3. (#02) Pau Cubarsí
4. (#05) Iñigo Martínez
5. (#03) Alejandro Balde
6. (#06) Gavi
7. (#08) Pedri
8. (#10) Lamine Yamal
9. (#16) Fermín López
10. (#11) Raphinha
11. (#07) Ferran Torres

García, in addition, debuts using the number '1', whose owner has been Marc-André ter Stegen since 2014. With the German injured for the next three months, for now, the Catalan goalkeeper will use the captain's number.

Another who will debut a number this Sunday is Lamine Yamal. The Mataró native will wear the '10' on his back for the first time on the field with a Barça that, finally, will wear its titular kit despite being a visitor in Kobe. 

Hansi Flick ratifies his confidence in Gavi, Eric and Fermín

Thus, Barça debuts on the Asian tour with Joan García in goal and the line of four in the back formed by Eric García, Pau Cubarsí, Iñigo Martínez and Alejandro Balde. Gavi accompanies Pedri as a defensive pivot, with Lamine and Raphinha as wingers and Fermín López as an attacking midfielder, behind Ferran Torres.

In this way, Flick maintains the base of what was his gala XI in the final stretch of 24/25, with Eric as right back and Ferran as '9'. The coach, in addition, ratifies his confidence in the Martorell native, as well as in Gavi and Fermín, these two in principle with more competition to be starters after the return of Marc Bernal and the signing of Rashford.

Related

Hansi Flick closes the door to a departure of Fermín López and Eric García

The Berga native was the only absentee due to injury against Vissel, while Gerard Martín, who underwent surgery on his right hand last month, was discharged and is on the bench. Eric still has to resolve his renewal, but the coaching staff is firmly committed to his continuity.

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