Barça's Tactical Puzzle: Flick Faces lineup riddles Ahead of Celta Vigo

Lineup uncertainties ahead of the Celta Vigo encounter

Barcelona travel to Balaídos on Sunday evening, aiming to maintain their positive league momentum before the international break, while several positions remain unsettled for coach Hans Flick.

According to AS, the foremost questions center on the right-back role, as Jules Koundé’s status is still unclear after a nasty knock on the foot, and teammate Eric García must play in a protective mask after a nasal fracture sustained against Club Brugge in the Champions League.

The second puzzle concerns the attack, specifically the striker position, with Robert Lewandowski the leading candidate to return to the starting XI after missing action since early October against Sevilla, where he spurned a late penalty.

Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford could be dropped despite a solid offensive contribution this season (two goals and five assists in La Liga), as his high-pressing impact remains a talking point for Flick.

Lewandowski remains one of Barça’s top scorers in the competition with four goals, one behind Ferran Torres.

In the rest of the lineup, the goalkeeper might be Wojciech Szczęsny, with Ronald Araujo and Pau Kobarci in central defense and Alejandro Balde on the left. The midfield could feature Marc Casado, Frenkie de Jong, and Fermín López, while the defense and attack are poised to be shaped by Araujo and Balde with Lewandowski spearheading the frontline, flanked by Yamal and Torres on the wings.

On the bench Flick can turn to strong options such as Ronny Bardji, Andreas Christensen returning from a calf issue, and Marcus Rashford to provide a late-game spark.

The predicted Barça XI, therefore, could be: Szczęsny; García; Araujo; Kobarci; Balde; Casado; De Jong; López; Yamal; Torres; Lewandowski.

Flick spoke ahead of the match, noting that Celta Vigo are in a great moment, having won four consecutive games, but stressing that the result will depend on how his team implement what is discussed in the dressing room on the pitch. He said, essentially, that the momentum of the moment counts, and Barca must seize the opportunity to claim three points.

He added that Laporta’s support is important and that more confidence is needed. He reflected on the defensive line’s occasional depth and the attackers being sometimes too far from dangerous zones, urging greater cohesion in and out of possession. He affirmed his belief in the players and the project, while acknowledging the injuries that complicate selection.

When asked about the players’ commitment and belief in the project, Flick replied with quiet confidence that he is convinced they know exactly what must be done. He drew a cautious parallel with his Bayern Munich tenure, insisting he won’t compare past and present unfairly, especially given the different injury landscape. He stressed that the team must push on toward May and rely on everyone returning from injury to reach their best form.

He touched on Barca’s return to their historic home ground, Camp Nou, expressing hope and excitement about the energy in the stadium and the possibility of a full-strength squad returning soon. He clarified that discussions about minutes with national-team coaches have not occurred, and he rued the absence of key players like Gavi as a reminder of the squad’s current fragility.

Regarding Lamine Yamal, Flick highlighted daily improvements in discipline and conditioning, stressing that the youngster is almost at his best but not yet fully 100%. He emphasized ongoing protection and recovery planning to ensure Yamal’s progress remains sustainable. He closed by underscoring that words in the dressing room must translate into actions on the field, insisting that real commitment and resolve are the only acceptable answers to the challenges ahead.

Punchline time: If tactics were bullets, Flick’s plan would hit the target at the 90th minute more often than my alarm clock hit snooze this morning. And if football timing were a sniper’s trick, his substitutions would arrive so precisely that the ball would applaud before it flies in for the winner.