Real Oviedo and FC Barcelona face each other this Thursday in LaLiga EA Sports 2025/26 at the Carlos Tartiere Stadium (9:30 PM CEST), for the sixth matchday of the tournament. Hansi Flick's team arrives with five absences due to injury, with Lamine Yamal being the most notable absence, still due to discomfort in the pubis that has sidelined him from the last four official matches.

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

Possible starting XI for Barça against Real Oviedo

  1. (#13, GK) Joan García
  2. (#23) Jules Koundé
  3. (#24) Eric García
  4. (#05) Pau Cubarsí
  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 Bench (substitute players)

  1. (#25, GK) Szczesny
  2. (#31, GK) Diego Kochen
  3. (#04) Ronald Araujo
  4. (#09) Robert Lewandowski
  5. (#15) Andreas Christensen
  6. (#21) Frenkie de Jong
  7. (#22) Marc Bernal
  8. (#26) Jofre Torrents
  9. (#28) Roony Bardghji
  10. (#29) Toni Fernández

Injured Barça players

  1. (#01) Marc-André ter Stegen
  2. (#03) Alejandro Balde
  3. (#06) Gavi
  4. (#10) Lamine Yamal
  5. (#16) Fermín López

What will be the surprises and tactical variations from Flick's Barça against Real Oviedo?

In principle, Flick plans to make several adjustments to his XI from matchday 5 against Getafe (3-0), with Marc Casadó accompanying Pedri González and Pau Cubarsí returning as a center-back in place of Andreas Christensen. Additionally, Marcus Rashford should return as a left winger, a position that Ferran Torres occupied against Getafe.

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, Eric García should partner with Pau Cubarsí, with Ronald Araujo waiting for his opportunity on the bench alongside Andreas Christensen. Jofre Torrents could also have minutes on Thursday as an alternative on the left.

Midfield:

  • As a pivot, Marc Casadó is expected to partner with Pedri in midfield, while Dani Olmo would remain as the team's attacking midfielder. Flick will not be able to count on Fermín López, who was injured in the match against Getafe. Marc Bernal should also add minutes, after debuting against Valencia providing an assist.

Attack:

  • In attack, Raphinha and Marcus Rashford complete the Blaugrana attack alongside Ferran Torres. The 'Shark' is coming off scoring a brace against Getafe and hopes to remain in the XI for the sixth consecutive matchday. Robert Lewandowski and Roony Bardghji would start on the bench, with the Englishman back in the starting lineup.

Barça Absences: Who is missing the match against Oviedo due to injury?

Fermín López and Lamine Yamal celebrating a goal in the 2025 Joan Gamper Trophy

For now, five Barça players will be confirmed absentees due to physical problems. Lamine Yamal remains sidelined due to pubalgia, and his return date is still uncertain, although the '10' is confident of being available on Sunday against Real Sociedad, for matchday 7.

The outlook is much more complex for Gavi. The midfielder underwent arthroscopy, and finally, they had to operate on the internal meniscus of his right knee. Therefore, the '6' will be out for between four and five months, with February 2026 being the tentative date for his return.

Another who will be out of action until mid-October is Fermín López. The player from Huelva suffered a muscular injury in the left iliopsoas in the final moments of Sunday's match against Getafe and will be out for three weeks. Due to the October break, in theory, the '16' will miss, at a minimum, three LaLiga matchdays and one Champions League match.

Alejandro Balde, meanwhile, is in the final stretch of recovery from the injury to his left hamstring that he suffered in early September. The '3' will probably receive medical clearance this weekend. The fourth absentee is Ter Stegen, who will be out of action, at least, until the end of November or the beginning of December.

The possible lineup of Real Oviedo against Barcelona

  • Initial XI: Aarón Escandell; Ahijado, Calvo, Carmo, Alhassane; Dendoncker, Reina; Brekalo, Ilic, Hassan; Rondón.
  • Bench: Moldovan (GK), Bertrand, Sibo, Costas, Forés, Chaira, Colombatto, Cazorla, Luengo, Bailly, Esteban, Domingues.
  • Injured: Ovie Ejaria and Nacho Vidal.
  • Suspended: Fede Viñas.

Oviedo, meanwhile, arrives in a complex situation for matchday 6 of LaLiga. Veljko Paunovic's team has only one victory in five appearances and is coming off losses against Getafe (2-0) and Elche (1-0), both matches away from home.

In addition, the Carbayones arrive at the match against Barcelona with at least three significant absences. Fede Viñas is still absent due to suspension, while midfielder Ovie Ejaria and right-back Nacho Vidal are out due to injury. Center-back David Costas is also doubtful, although he could be available on Thursday, at least as a substitute.

As things stand, Oviedo could receive Barça with Aarón Escandell in goal and a line of four at the back formed by full-backs Ahijado and Alhassane, again with the duo Calvo-Carmo in the center of defense. Dendoncker and Reina would be the defensive pivots, with Ilic, Brekalo, and Hassan further forward. Up front, Salomón Rondón will be the only area reference.