Six Barcelona players in line for a first Clásico as Flick adds three reserves to training
Half a dozen members of Hansi Flick’s first-team squad are in line to experience a Clásico against Real Madrid for the first time when the two sides meet at Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday night. The club has listed Dominik Livaković, Rodri, Gabriel Jesus, Karim Adeyemi and Anthony Gordon, all signed this summer, along with Brian Fariñas, who was promoted to the first-team squad ahead of the 2026/27 season.
That figure comes from an FC Barcelona rundown of the new faces on both sides of the LaLiga matchday 10 fixture, which kicks off at 9.00pm CET. Xavi Espart could be added to the list as well. The academy full-back, who recently extended his contract to 2030, was named in the squad for the league Clásico on matchday 35 last season but never left the bench.
Three Barça Atlètic players join the final session
Barcelona wrapped up their preparations on Saturday. According to the club’s training report, every fit first-team player took part apart from Jules Koundé, who has already been ruled out. Flick also brought in three players from the reserves: Abdelkarim, Àlex Campos and Orian Goren.
Campos, the Barça Atlètic captain, travelled with the senior squad for the first time for the Champions League game in Paris on Tuesday, when injuries had left the coach short of central defenders. His presence again on Saturday underlines how thin that area of the squad remains, with Eric Garcia also sidelined.
The club also noted that at least four names from the starting XI in the last home meeting with Madrid will be missing. Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres are no longer at the club, while Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo are both injured.
Adeyemi: “living the dream”
Adeyemi is one of the newcomers who has spoken openly about the occasion. In a fan Q&A published by the club on Friday, the German forward said he is “living the dream” at Barcelona and named Flick as the main reason for his move. “He’s the reason why I’m here, and I’m very grateful to him for that,” Adeyemi said.
Asked for his best moment in a Barça shirt so far, he picked his first home goal, against Feyenoord, before adding: “but I hope I’ll have an even better one on Sunday.” His comments were published in full in the club’s interview with Adeyemi. Gabriel Jesus, another of the summer arrivals, has spoken in similar terms about Flick’s trust.
The club’s social channels have been leaning into the theme as well, with a clip of Gordon in training on Saturday evening.
Changes on the Madrid side too
The visitors arrive with plenty of turnover of their own. Barcelona’s preview lists six summer signings for Real Madrid: Yan Diomande, Marc Cucurella, Carlos Espí, Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konaté and Bernardo Silva. José Mourinho is back in the dugout for a second spell, having first coached Madrid from 2010/11 to 2012/13.
Madrid will also be without Vinícius Júnior, who is suspended after his red card against Villarreal, while Fran García and Gonzalo García have both left the club since the last Clásico.
