Hamza Abd Elkarim’s pre-season form gives Barcelona selection puzzle at Elche

Barcelona begin their 2026-27 La Liga campaign on Sunday evening with a trip to Elche, after their opening-round fixture was postponed, and Egyptian forward Hamza Abd Elkarim has emerged as one of the main selection questions facing manager Hansi Flick.

The match will be played at the Martinez Valero, where Barcelona will start their bid to win a third successive league title. Several players who went deep into the World Cup were given additional time to recover, meaning Flick has had to assess his options carefully before the club’s delayed opening game.

According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Abd Elkarim has a genuine chance of being named in the starting line-up after making a strong impression during Barcelona’s pre-season preparations.

The Egypt international is Barcelona’s leading scorer in their summer games, having found the net four times. That form has moved him firmly into Flick’s thinking before the start of the new campaign and has created competition for the central attacking role.

Mundo Deportivo reports that Abd Elkarim is competing to play as the team’s recognised striker. Raphinha or Gordon could instead be used as a “false nine”, allowing Flick to change the shape of his attack.

However, the predicted Barcelona line-up published by the newspaper does not include Abd Elkarim from the start. Gordon is selected to lead the attack, with Raphinha and Lamine Yamal expected to operate on the flanks.

There is no place in the squad for Rodri Hernandez, despite the Spain midfielder having been officially registered as a Barcelona player. Rodri has not yet trained with the first team because he requires more time to reach full fitness after beginning pre-season later than his team-mates.

He is expected to join group training on Monday. The timing of his Barcelona debut will then depend on his physical condition.

Joao Cancelo, who completed his move to Barcelona later than some of the club’s other arrivals, is expected to be included in the squad. The Portugal international has spent two weeks training with Al-Hilal and is considered further along in his preparations than Rodri.

Barcelona’s predicted line-up is:

Goalkeeper: Joan Garcia.

Defenders: Alejandro Balde, Gerard Martin, Andreas Christensen, Eric Garcia.

Midfielders: Xavi Espart, Fermin Lopez, Marc Bernal.

Forwards: Raphinha, Gordon, Lamine Yamal.

Elche’s expected line-up is:

Goalkeeper: Dituro.

Defenders: Sangare, Affengruber, Redondo, Schust, Valera.

Midfielders: Villar, Aguado.

Forwards: Houri, Fer Nino, Cepeda.

Barcelona will be seeking an immediate statement in their first league appearance of the season, while the uncertainty over Abd Elkarim’s role adds an extra point of interest before kick-off. His four pre-season goals have placed him among the leading candidates to spearhead the champions’ attack, even though the current forecast points to Gordon starting at the Martinez Valero.