FC Barcelona and Levante UD face each other this Saturday in LaLiga EA Sports 2025/26 in Valencia (21:30 CEST) for the second matchday of the championship. Hansi Flick's team arrives with most of the starters available, with Robert Lewandowski already available, although three registrations are pending.

While waiting for the club to return to the 1:1 rule, Wojciech Szczesny, Roony Bardghji and Gerard Martín have not yet obtained a federative license. Héctor Fort, meanwhile, remains on the sidelines while resolving his departure from the team in the final stretch of the summer market.

We review the possible starting lineup, the substitutes bench and the injured and sanctioned players of Barcelona of Hansi Flick for the duel against Levante. Complete analysis!

Probable starting XI of Barça: 

  1. (#13, P) Joan García
  2. (#23) Jules Koundé
  3. (#04) Ronald Araujo
  4. (#05) Pau Cubarsí
  5. (#03) Alejandro Balde
  6. (#17) Marc Casadó
  7. (#08) Pedri
  8. (#16) Fermín López
  9. (#10) Lamine Yamal
  10. (#11) Raphinha
  11. (#07) Ferran Torres

Barça bench (substitute players): 

  1. (#01, P) Iñaki Peña
  2. (#31, P) Diego Kochen
  3. (#06) Gavi
  4. (#09) Robert Lewandowski
  5. (#14) Marcus Rashford
  6. (#15) Andreas Christensen
  7. (#20) Dani Olmo
  8. (#21) Frenkie de Jong
  9. (#24) Eric García
  10. (#26) Jofre Torrents
  11. (#27) Pedro 'Dro' Fernández
  12. (#29) Toni Fernández

Injured players of Barça:

  1. (#01) Marc-André ter Stegen
  2. (#28) Marc Bernal

Players pending registration:

  1. (#19) Roony Bardghji
  2. (#25, P) Szczesny
  3. (#35) Gerard Martín

What will be the surprises and tactical variants of Flick's Barça against Levante?

In principle, Flick plans to keep his XI from the first matchday almost intact, against Mallorca (0-3), again with important tweaks in defense. Joan García would be the starting goalkeeper, with Jules Koundé back in the XI as right back.

Goalkeeper and defense

  • Joan García will be in goal, while Jules Koundé and Alejandro Balde will be the full-backs. In the center of the defense, Pau Cubarsí should accompany Ronald Araujo, with Andreas Christensen waiting for his opportunity on the bench along with Eric García. Gerard Martín and Wojciech Szczesny are not yet registered.

Midfield:

  • As a pivot, Marc Casadó is expected to be Pedri's partner in midfield, while Fermín López would remain as the team's attacking midfielder. Dani Olmo and Gavi, both with a good run in the preseason, can also be starters again, while Frenkie de Jong remains in doubt while waiting for the birth of his son.

Forward:

  • In attack, Raphinha and Ferran Torres complete the blaugrana attack alongside Lamine Yamal. The 'Shark' scored the second blaugrana goal in Mallorca and, being in better physical condition than Lewandowski, should remain in the lineup. Rashford added minutes in the complement in Son Moix and will again be a substitute.

Barça's casualties: Who is missing the match against Levante due to injury?

Hansi Flick and Ter Stegen, during the Joan Gamper Trophy 2025

For the moment, only two Barça players will be confirmed out due to physical problems. The first  casualty, 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 blaugrana medical report and, in the meantime, the German is working at the Ciutat Esportiva to recover. The other who remains on the sidelines is Marc Bernal. The midfielder already has medical discharge, but the coaching staff prefers to respect the one-year absence time before calling him up again.

The player from Berga traveled with the team to the Asian tour, but did not play any game. He also did not see action in the Gamper or in Mallorca, so it is likely that his return will have to wait until matchday 3, against Rayo. Just one year later and in the same stadium (Vallecas) where he was injured last season.

Levante's possible ultra-defensive lineup: Will the Granotas repeat the team?

  • Initial XI: Cuñat; Toljan, De la Fuente, Elgezabal, Cabello, Manu Sánchez; Oriol Rey, Pablo Martínez, Brugui, Morales; Iván Romero.
  • Bench: Primo (P), Cayetano (P), Moreno, Pampín, García, Luch, Rivera, Espí, Cortés, Krug, Gómez, Agustina.
  • Injured: None.

After overcoming the drama with the registrations prior to their debut in LaLiga, Levante returns to the Ciutat de Valencia to play their first game in Primera since 2022. Almost certainly, coach Julián Calero will repeat his scheme from Vitoria against Alavés (2-1), with three central defenders and very close lines and close to his area.

The Granotas are preparing an ultra-defensive tactical drawing to try to nullify Barça's powerful offense, although very attentive to the possibility of quickly recovering the ball and doing damage on the counter with long balls. José Morales should return to the XI, playing behind Brugui and Iván Romero.

As things stand, the Valencian team would start with Cuñat in goal, De la Fuente, Elgezabal and Cabello as central defenders, Toljan and Manu Sánchez would be the wingers. In midfield, Oriol Rey and Pablo Martínez would accompany Morales, with Iván Romero as '9'.