Elche return home on the back of a gritty away draw, but a heavily rotated lineup with seven regulars missing signals a tough evening against Barcelona. The visitors begin their league campaign with a front four of Yamal, Fermín, Raphinha, and Adeyemi – a frightening proposition…
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Sign inElche take on reigning La Liga champions Barcelona on Sunday, 23 August 2026, as the second round of the new season brings the Catalan giants to a side that narrowly avoided the drop last term. Hansi Flick’s team start their title defence after an extra week of preparation, while Elche are desperate to reverse a 13-match losing streak against the Blaugrana that stretches across all competitions.
Elche boss Martín Anselmi is without winger Grady Diangana, who missed the opening 1-1 draw at Deportivo Alavés with a reported knee injury and remains a major doubt. Morocco under-21 international Adam Boayar is definitely out with a muscle problem, and Yago Santiago continues his recovery from a knee issue. Marc Aguado, who scored the late equaliser last week, will anchor midfield alongside former Benfica prospect Martim Neto. Anselmi is expected to stick with the 3‑4‑2‑1 shape that used wing‑backs Valera and Sangaré to stretch Deportivo, with Fer Niño leading the line.
Barcelona welcome back centre‑back Pau Cubarsí, who was rested for the Gamper Trophy after playing every minute of Spain’s World Cup campaign. Flick has confirmed the Best Young Player of the tournament is available but will not start, leaving a choice between Jules Koundé and Andreas Christensen to partner Gerard Martín in central defence. Eric Garcia is set to continue at right‑back and Alejandro Balde on the left. Summer signings Rodri, Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi have all been registered and are in contention to make their debuts, while Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji remain sidelined. Pedri is training individually as part of a workload management plan and is unlikely to feature from the start.
A 1‑1 draw at newly‑promoted Deportivo was a solid if unspectacular start for Los Franjiverdes, who finished the previous campaign just one point above the relegation zone. That escape did nothing to loosen Barcelona’s grip on this fixture: Elche have lost all 13 meetings since their last win in 2015, most recently a 3‑1 home defeat in January when Flick’s side overran them in the second half. Anselmi’s men kept a clean sheet in only three of their 19 away games last season, and the defensive numbers suggest they will again rely on wing‑back width and quick transitions to trouble a Barcelona backline that conceded just 18 goals across the entire 2025‑26 La Liga season.
Eight points clear of Real Madrid, 95 goals scored, a second straight league crown, and now a summer of fresh arrivals: Barcelona arrive with a squad even deeper than the one that dominated Spain. The prospect of unleashing Gordon’s direct running and Adeyemi’s pace alongside Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski gives Flick more firepower than any side in the division. Pre‑season saw mixed results — a 1‑0 win over Nottingham Forest and a 1‑0 loss to Udinese, followed by a Gamper Trophy workout — but the extra training time has been used to bed in the new faces and gradually reintroduce World Cup winners. The champions have not lost an opening away fixture since 2019 and will expect to set down a marker.
Deportivo’s narrow midfield diamond allowed Elche’s wing‑backs to find space last week, and Anselmi will encourage Valera and Sangaré to do the same against Barcelona. With Balde and Garcia expected to push high, the home side’s width could be their best route into the final third. How well Koundé or Christensen can shuffle across to cover those channels, and whether Aguado can release early balls behind the full‑backs, will likely decide whether Elche can end their 13‑game losing sequence against the Blaugrana.
A first home point of the season would be a precious early boost for Anselmi; for Barcelona, only three points will satisfy the champions as they begin a campaign that already carries sky‑high expectations.
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