Rodri misses out as Barcelona kick off La Liga title defence at Elche
Barcelona begin their 2026-27 LaLiga campaign away at Elche on Sunday, with Hansi Flick’s side facing early questions over how they will replace Robert Lewandowski’s goals and manage without new signing Rodri.
After the postponement of their first game against Athletic Club, Barcelona’s first league game of the season is at the Estadio Martínez Valero. Elche, meanwhile, have already played once, drawing 1-1 away to Deportivo La Coruña.
Barcelona are looking to extend their domestic success after winning back-to-back La Liga titles. The club has also revamped its squad over the summer with Rodri arriving from Manchester City and attacking reinforcements such as Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi.
Rodri returns but won’t be in the squad for the game against Elche
Perhaps the most important summer signing for Barcelona is Rodri. The Spain international joined from Manchester City in a deal believed to be worth £65.4m and signed a contract running until 2030.
His arrival provides Flick with an experienced holding midfielder who can dictate possession and shield the back line. But Rodri will not debut for Barcelona at Elche, as he is still managing fitness problems from recent injury issues.
Barcelona will therefore have to start their title defence without the player who was meant to bring more balance to the midfield.
Barcelona face a new offensive challenge
Flick’s more immediate problem is at centre-forward.
The striker left Barcelona at the end of last season after four years at the club. The Poland forward leaves a significant gap to fill up front for the Catalan side after ending his Barcelona career with 119 goals in 191 appearances.
Ferran Torres is another player leaving. Barcelona announced on August 15 that he would join Paris Saint-Germain.
Gordon and Adeyemi have arrived in Barcelona, but neither is a like-for-like replacement for Lewandowski. Both are quick and can play in various attacking positions, giving Flick more flexibility than a straight, like-for-like No. 9.
The club was also linked with a move for Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez, but that deal failed to materialise, leaving Flick to work with the options at his disposal.
Another possibility is the teenager Hamza Abdelkarim. Flick had lauded the 18-year-old after he netted four goals in pre-season friendlies. The latest confirmed team news sees Abdelkarim listed among Barcelona’s substitutes for the Elche match.
Yamal is the core of Barcelona’s attack
Lewandowski’s absence will mean more responsibility for players like Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Dani Olmo.
Yamal scored a goal and an assist in Barcelona's 5-2 victory over Basel on August 16, with Adeyemi also getting on the scoresheet. Gordon also made his Barcelona debut in that same friendly.
Flick has a range of attacking combinations to choose from, though the absence of an established central striker may give Barcelona’s early-season approach a more fluid nature.
The latest confirmed news for the Elche match has Yamal, Raphinha and Adeyemi in the starting XI, with Abdelkarim, Gordon and Olmo on the bench.
The test will also be for Barcelona’s defence
Without Rodri, Barcelona will have to wait to see if his arrival can improve the team’s defensive stability.
Flick’s side have generally produced solid attacking numbers during his tenure, but defensive consistency has been a recurring issue. Barcelona will be without Rodri in midfield and defence, and a number of players are still working their way back to match fitness after returning from the World Cup.
Elche, however, have started the season with a new coach. Martín Anselmi has replaced Eder Sarabia and has kept a system based on intensity and defensive organisation. Deportivo and Elche played out a 1-1 draw in their first game.
