FC Barcelona predicted lineup for LaLiga 2024-25 season

The Blaugrana have a mountain to climb if they are to restore their days of former glory.

FC Barcelona aim to start from scratch after failing to win any silverware last season. Barca finished second in LaLiga 2023-24 as archrivals Real Madrid won it. 

Former coach Xavi couldn’t reverse their fortunes in the UEFA Champions League (UCL), and Barcelona dropped down to the Europa League for the first time since 2003–04. They subsequently exited in the quarter-finals as Los Blancos won the UCL a record 15th time. Though Xavi did lead Barca to second in the league, their Copa del Rey and Supercopa exit earlier meant they were to finish the season trophyless.

New coach Hansi Flick has his work cut out. He has overseen some changes with Lamine Yamal’s UEFA Euro 2024-winning Spanish teammate Dani Olmo joining the club from RB Leipzig. Injuries to Gavi and Frenkie De Jong will be a cause of worry for the German tactician but the return of stellar left-back Alejandro Balde will make him breathe a sigh of relief. 

FC Barcelona’s predicted lineup: 4-2-3-1

Goalkeeper: Marc-André ter Stegen 

The German shot-stopping stalwart is set to take over as first-team captain after Sergi Roberto’s confirmed exit. Although Ter Stegen had significantly fewer clean sheets (15) than LaLiga 2022-23 (26), it makes sense as statistics indicate a 0.04% increase in the post-shot expected goals per shot on target. In simpler words, his lightning reflexes could only do so much, as the difficulty of shots that he faced was higher. 

Right-Back: Jules Koundé 

Sergi Roberto’s exit also means Flick is left with dwindling resources at right-back. Jules Kounde managed to put in a decent shift in the same position under Xavi, despite his natural position being centre-back. Although his progressive passing improved alongside two assists (from an expected 2.6) and more passes and crosses into the penalty area, his defensive actions suffered and went down from a tackle-win rate of 67% to only 54.9%.

Barca could’ve profited more off Joao Cancelo in the same position but the club rejecting the chance to buy the Portuguese fullback means Kounde will have to suffice for now.  

Centre-Back: Pau Cubarsí

Yet another teenage La Masia sensation, Pau Cubarsi made headlines as he started in FC Barcelona’s group stage game against Napoli and pocketed their most lethal attacker, Victor Osimhen. Cubarsi will easily be a starter for the Blaugrana given his impressive 72.2% tackle win rate. At only 17, he also has a knack for accurate diagonal balls, as he made a whopping 11 switches for his side last season, signalling Flick that he can easily be considered one of the building points of their attack.

Centre-Back: Andreas Christensen 

Like Kounde, Christensen had an alarmingly low rate of tackles won (57.7%). However, the Danish centre-back made more appearances for the Blaugrana last season and will most probably delegated the role of the cover defender, while Cubarsi engages attackers. The centre-half was better at making interceptions (21) and clearances (41) and will be used more like a sweeper this season. 

Left-Back: Alejandro Balde 

After breaking through in LaLiga 2022-23, Balde ruptured his tendon in the latter stages of LaLiga 2023-24, keeping him on the sidelines for a good 22 games. Balde’s high-flying nature means he has an immense progressive ball-carrying rate as he covered 4100 yards in 2023, with six assists and one goal to his name. His return should solve the left-back query for the mentor ahead of this season. 

Central Midfielder: Pedri

In the last year, Pedri ranked in the 90th percentile for assists, shot-creating actions and progressive passes, worldwide. At only 21, the midfielder has already taken on a Herculean role at the club with his effective dribbling and vision. Now that he is fit, Flick can rely on him to pull the strings in the middle of the park and guide the team to victory this season. 

Central Midfielder: İlkay Gündoğan 

Under Pep Guardiola, Gundogan matured into one of the best box-to-box midfielders of the decade. At Barca, his skillset proved vital as he scored five goals and assisted nine in LaLiga 2023-24. Although his expected goals were higher, he outperformed his expected assists quota.

With the current squad, he might combine with Pedri to wrestle possession back but one can expect him to be employed as a deep-lying playmaker, more often, because of his laser-guided distribution.

Right Winger: Lamine Yamal 

Lamine Yamal became the youngest player to ever play in the Euros, as well as score, assist and play in the final at only 17 years of age. He also surpassed Pele as the youngest-ever player to win an international competition. Needless to say, the best young player of Euro 2024 will once again be FC Barcelona’s brightest star in LaLiga 2024-25.

With more experience in the bag, he will be up against more wary opponents, but the winger’s unmatched agility, ball control and shooting will be sure to help him out of any sticky situation.  

Central Attacking Midfielder: Dani Olmo

Spanish attacker Dani Olmo awed the world with his cutthroat dribbling, pinpoint passing and finishing, scoring three goals and providing two assists, as he helped his nation win the Euros. Preferring to play on the left wing and then drifting into the number 10 role, Olmo caused disarray amongst the opposition ranks as current Barca teammate Yamal and Euro final goalscorer Nico Williams wreaked havoc on the wings. His proficiency at taking on and beating opponents will be crucial for a defensively unbalanced Blaugrana side who have to ensure their opponents are pegged back with waves of relentless attacks.  

Left Winger: Ferran Torres

Ferran Torres has been Barcelona’s Icarus, falling from the heights of fame after failing to capture the glowing form he showcased at Manchester City. However, the winger did score seven times in LaLiga and thrice in the Champions League 2023-24 while also getting three assists. He will have to step it up especially with the likes of Raphinha in the squad if he is to nail down a spot at left wing despite being the only natural starter in that position.

Striker: Robert Lewandowski

Lewandowski has been the victim of his own success, as despite scoring a whopping 19 goals and registering eight assists for FC Barcelona in LaLiga 2023-24, he was labelled as a washed player. The Polish hitman had a campaign to forget in the Euros.

He will be up and running to help out his former manager with whom he won the sextuple in 2020. Flick has gotten the best out of the striker earlier and will be ensuring the perfect supply for him to outshine the league’s attackers.

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