Barcelona’s Ilkay Gündogan will not be able to play in the team’s La Liga opener against Valencia due to a head injury sustained during the Joan Gamper Trophy defeat. This adds to the Catalan side’s growing list of injured players, creating challenges for the team’s performance at the beginning of the new season.
Aside from Gündogan, key players such as Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Ronald Araújo, and Ansu Fati are also sidelined due to injuries. Additionally, Fermín López is still on a break following his participation in the European Championship and Olympic Games. The absence of these players poses a significant hurdle for Barcelona as they strive to make a strong start in the league.
Registration Hurdles
To make matters worse, summer signing Dani Olmo is unavailable for selection as his signing has not been registered with La Liga. The delay in registering Olmo is part of Barcelona’s effort to manage their league-imposed spending cap. Despite training with the team, Olmo remains ineligible to play, further limiting the team’s options in the upcoming matches.
The registration of several players was finalized recently, but deals for Olmo and Vítor Roque are still pending. Roque, a signing from January, has been advised to seek a new club before the transfer window closes. This uncertainty regarding player registrations and potential departures adds to the instability within the team as they prepare for the league opener.
On a positive note, Pedri is set to return to Barcelona’s squad after recovering from an injury sustained during the Euro 2024 quarterfinals. His inclusion provides some relief for the team, offering additional options in midfield. However, with limited options available, Barcelona will heavily rely on younger players like Casadó, Torre, and Bernal, as well as versatile players like Christensen and Raphinha, to fill in the gaps in the team’s lineup.
Barcelona faces significant challenges as they head into the La Liga opener against Valencia. The absence of key players, registration issues, and uncertainties surrounding the transfer window create a sense of urgency for the team to adapt and perform under difficult circumstances. The upcoming matches will test Barcelona’s depth and resilience as they navigate through a period of adversity in the early stages of the season.