Barcelona name Hamza Abdelkarim and Joao Cancelo in squad to face Elche

Barcelona have included Hamza Abdelkarim and new signing Joao Cancelo in their squad for Sunday’s La Liga meeting with Elche, while Rodri and Alejandro Balde are among the notable absentees.

Hansi Flick’s side travel to Elche for their second-round fixture as they prepare to begin their league campaign. Barcelona’s opening-round match was postponed because of their players’ involvement in the World Cup and to ensure they received a longer period of rest in line with competition regulations.

Cancelo has been named in the squad after recently joining Barcelona. However, Rodri has not been selected, while Balde is also missing from the group amid reports that he is close to leaving the club.

Balde has been linked with a move to Benfica, adding to the significance of his omission from Flick’s plans for the trip to Elche.

Barcelona’s squad also includes Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Anthony Gordon, alongside Karim Adeyemi and the teenage forward Hamza Abdelkarim. The Catalan club will be aiming to make a positive start before facing Athletic Club on Thursday in their rearranged fixture from the opening round.

The full Barcelona squad is:

Goalkeepers: Joan Garcia, Wojciech Szczesny, Eder Aller.

Defenders: Joao Cancelo, Pau Cubarsi, Andreas Christensen, Gerard Martin, Jules Kounde, Eric Garcia, Alvaro Cortes, Jordi Besquer, Xavi Espart.

Midfielders: Gavi, Fermin Lopez, Pedri, Dani Olmo, Marc Bernal, Brian Farinas.

Forwards: Hamza Abdelkarim, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Karim Adeyemi, Anthony Gordon.

Barcelona’s visit to Elche is their second-round fixture, although it will effectively serve as the team’s first league match of the campaign because the club’s opening game was delayed.

Their next assignment will come on Thursday against Athletic Club, with that match having been postponed from the first round. The rescheduling affected Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico de Madrid after their players’ World Cup commitments, with the clubs granted additional recovery time under the relevant regulations.

Flick has therefore opted for a squad featuring a mixture of established first-team players and younger options for the Elche match. Cancelo’s inclusion provides another defensive choice, while the presence of Yamal, Raphinha and Gordon gives Barcelona several attacking options.

The absence of Balde and Rodri will be closely watched, particularly with Balde’s future the subject of ongoing reports. His reported potential move to Benfica is the stated reason surrounding his omission, while no further explanation is given for Rodri’s absence.

Barcelona now begin a demanding sequence with the away fixture at Elche followed by Thursday’s meeting with Athletic Club.