Hansi Flick's FC Barcelona visits Real Oviedo this Thursday (9:30 PM), a match that seems ideal for making rotations in the Azulgrana squad. The 'Culés' face their fourth match in the last 11 days and the team arrives at matchday 6 of LaLiga with five injury absences.

Fortunately, none affect the center of the defense, but the coach does not rule out alternating his center back pairing again. In the previous five matchdays, Flick only kept his defense intact against Mallorca and Levante. Afterwards, he always made at least one adjustment in the defense, mainly in the central pairing.

Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen Aim for the Starting XI in Oviedo

Against Oviedo, Ronald Araujo could return to the starting XI for the first time since matchday 2, while Andreas Christensen has a good chance of staying in the lineup after a good performance against Getafe.

Pau Cubarsí, although he has trained with the group, still has some discomfort in his right knee after the match in Newcastle. Jules Koundé also finished with a knock on his right ankle against the English side and could rest at the Carlos Tartiere, leaving the right side to Eric García.

Flick Trusts His Rotation Plan for the Oviedo-Barça Match

Barcelona's lineup against Getafe (3-0).

"I have the confidence to change because everyone who has played has done very well. There are many players at a great level", said Hansi Flick in the press conference prior to the visit to the Carlos Tartiere.

So far, the German has tried three different center back pairings in five matchdays of LaLiga. After Iñigo Martínez's departure, the coaching staff opted for the Araujo-Cubarsí pairing as the first option, but both had problems against Levante (2-3) after a quiet start to the season in Mallorca (0-3).

Eric García and Andreas Christensen took charge of leading the defense in Vallecas, but the team did not have a good time against Rayo either (1-1). Cubarsí returned to the starting XI against Valencia (6-0), while the Dane did the same against Getafe (3-0). In both matches, the Azulgrana team kept a clean sheet, with few scares at the back.

Against Oviedo, the rotation in the defense is more about managing minutes than performance issues. Barça hosts Real Sociedad on Sunday (6:30 PM) and three days later will do the same with PSG (Wednesday, October 1). Therefore, the idea is to dose workloads to keep all the center backs fit and free from injuries.

Alejandro Balde is, for now, the only injured player in the 'Culé' defense and his return is scheduled for next week. Cubarsí returned with muscle discomfort from Newcastle, but was able to enter the squad for matchday 5 of LaLiga and will also travel to Oviedo.

All the Center Back Pairings Used by Hansi Flick in LaLiga 25/26

Ronald Araujo protests to referee Alejandro Hernández in the Levante-Barça (2-3)
  1. Mallorca-Barça (0-3): Ronald Araujo and Pau Cubarsí. Araujo played 90', Cubarsí came off in the 70'.
  2. Levante-Barça (2-3): Ronald Araujo and Pau Cubarsí. Cubarsí played 90', Araujo came off in the 75'.
  3. Rayo-Barça (1-1): Eric García and Andreas Christensen. Both played the full match.
  4. Barça-Valencia (6-0): Eric García and Pau Cubarsí. Both played the full match.
  5. Barça-Getafe (3-0): Eric García and Andreas Christensen. Both played the full match.

In the Champions League, against Newcastle, Flick opted for the Araujo-Cubarsí pairing. The '5' came off in the 70' with discomfort and will probably be a substitute in Oviedo, as a precaution, as he was on matchday 5 against Getafe.

Pau and Eric, for now, are the center backs with the most starts (3), while Araujo and Christensen have 2 matches in the starting XI each. Against Oviedo, both have a good chance of entering the lineup, while García could replace Jules Koundé as right back.

The '24' occupied this position against Mallorca and Levante, making him the only defender with a full set of starts in the first five matchdays of LaLiga. At this point in 24/25, Barcelona had conceded 4 goals, one more than in the current season (3).