FC Barcelona vs Valencia: probable lineups, casualties and surprises

FC Barcelona and Valencia face each other this Sunday in LaLiga EA Sports 2025/26 at the Johan Cruyff Stadium (9:00 PM CEST) for the fourth matchday of the tournament. Hansi Flick's team suffers five casualties due to injury, with Lamine Yamal being the latest to join the Barça's infirmary due to discomfort in the pubis.

The '10' returned from the international break with Spain with muscular problems and, finally, was ruled out against Valencia along with Frenkie de Jong, Alejandro Balde, Gavi and Marc-André ter Stegen. This forces the coaching staff to make important adjustments in the XI, with up to four changes compared to the previous matchday against Rayo (1-1).

We review the possible starting lineup, the substitutes' bench and the injured and suspended players of Barcelona of Hansi Flick for the match against Valencia. Complete analysis!

Probable starting XI of Barça:

1. (#13, GK) Joan García
2. (#23) Jules Koundé
3. (#05) Pau Cubarsí
4. (#15) Andreas Christensen
5. (#18) Gerard Martín
6. (#17) Marc Casadó
7. (#08) Pedri
8. (#20) Dani Olmo
9. (#11) Raphinha
10. (#14) Marcus Rashford
11. (#07) Ferran Torres

Barça's bench (substitute players):

1. (#25, GK) Szczesny
2. (#31, GK) Diego Kochen
3. (#04) Ronald Araujo
4. (#09) Robert Lewandowski
5. (#16) Fermín López
6. (#22) Marc Bernal
7. (#24) Eric García
8. (#26) Jofre Torrents
9. (#27) Pedro 'Dro' Fernández
10. (#28) Roony Bardghji
11. (#29) Toni Fernández
12. (#30) Guille Fernández

Barça's injured players:

1. (#01) Marc-André ter Stegen
2. (#03) Alejandro Balde
3. (#06) Gavi
4. (#10) Lamine Yamal
5. (#21) Frenkie de Jong

What will be the surprises and tactical variations of Flick's Barça against Valencia?

In principle, Flick plans to make several adjustments to his XI from matchday 3 against Rayo (1-1), with Marc Casadó accompanying Pedri González and Marcus Rashford back as a winger due to Lamine's absence. In addition, Gerard Martín will reappear as left back due to Balde's absence.

Goalkeeper and defense

• Joan García will be in goal, while Jules Koundé and Gerard Martín will be the full-backs. In the center of the defense, Pau Cubarsí should accompany Andreas Christensen, with Ronald Araujo waiting for his opportunity on the bench alongside Eric García, the latter being a starter in the first three matchdays.

Midfield:

• As a pivot, Marc Casadó is expected to be Pedri's partner in midfield, while Dani Olmo would remain as the team's attacking midfielder. Flick will not be able to count on Frenkie de Jong, but he will have Marc Bernal, who returns to the squad after 382 days out due to the serious injury suffered in his left knee. Fermín López, again, is expected to be a substitute.

Attack:

• In attack, Raphinha and Marcus Rashford complete the Barça's attack alongside Ferran Torres. The 'Shark' has scored a couple of goals this season and, being in better physical condition than Lewandowski, should remain in the lineup. Rashford was a starter against Levante and would be Lamine's replacement, although it is likely that Raphinha will attack on the right.

Barça's casualties: Who will miss the match against Valencia due to injury?

Lamine Yamal does not train and is out against Valencia - @LamineYamal

For the moment, five Barça players will be confirmed absentees due to physical problems. Lamine Yamal was the last to arrive at the Barça's infirmary, as a result of an injury to the pubis that prevented him from training normally on Friday and Saturday. The '10' is also doubtful for the Champions League debut against Newcastle next Thursday.

Another who returned from the break injured was Frenkie de Jong. The Dutchman suffers a 'minimal' injury to the external obturator muscle of his right leg which, finally, left him out of the squad against Valencia. Alejandro Balde will also not be available, as a result of an injury to the left femoral biceps that points to a period of absence of about three weeks.

The fourth absence for the Barça-Valencia match will be Gavi. The midfielder remains separated from the group due to discomfort in his right knee that, if it persists, will force him to undergo surgery to 'clean' the meniscus. For now, the club is betting on conservative treatment, pending the evolution of the '6'.

The last absence, the most prolonged, is that of Ter Stegen. The goalkeeper underwent surgery on July 29 in Bordeaux and will be out for between four and five months, according to the deadlines set by the club. LaLiga confirmed the long-term absence of the German, after reviewing the Barça's medical report and, meanwhile, he is working at the Ciutat Esportiva to recover.

Valencia's possible lineup: Will Carlos Corberán surprise?

• Initial XI: Agirrezabala; Foulquier, Tárrega, Diakhaby, Vázquez; Javi Guerra, Santamaría; López, Rioja, Danjuma; Hugo Duro.
• Bench: Dimitrievski (GK), Copete, Ramazani, García, Raba, Cömert, , Iranzo, Otorbi, Núñez, López, Navarro, Blázquez.
• Injured: None

Valencia, for its part, arrives with its entire team available for the visit to the Johan Cruyff Stadium. Carlos Corberán's team comes from thrashing Getafe at Mestalla (3-0) before the break and has 4 points out of 9 possible, after a victory, a draw and a defeat.

The 'ché' team was thrashed twice this 2025 against Barça (7-1 in La Liga, 0-5 in Copa), but is confident of taking advantage of the injuries in the Catalan team to rescue, why not, a point in the improvised alternative venue of matchday 4 of LaLiga.

Unless there is a surprise, Valencia will repeat the lineup with Agirrezabala, Foulquier and Vázqueez as full-backs and the Tárrega-Diakhaby duo in the center of the defense. Javi Guerra and Santamaría would remain in midfield, with Diego López as '10'. Rioja and Danjuma will be the wingers, while Hugo Duro remains as the team's '9'.

Valencia has not won three points as visitors against Barça since 15/16 and, in 24/25, they received 14 goals in 3 matches, scoring only a couple of goals. Will the culés be able to maintain their brutal dominance against Corberán's team?

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