FC Barcelona are set to play their first game of the 2026-27 season tonight when they will face Elche in their new La Liga campaign. The Catalans will be looking to defend the league title they won last season, and take their La Liga winning streak to three years this season.
Meanwhile, the team has made its preparations for the opening game, and Barcelona have announced the [squad](https://x.com/FCBarcelona/status/2091450634897657905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2091450634897657905%7Ctwgr%5E3a8ae2db46ac977d1e60f04f9e6b347c65e7e5fb%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbarcauniversal.com%2Fconfirmed-barcelona-squad-list-to-face-elche-cf-as-star-defender-misses-out%2F) for this match, and there are some interesting additions and omissions from this list.
The most notable absence is that of the fullback Alejandro Balde, who has been linked with a move away from the club in recent days, especially following the permanent signing of Joao Cancelo. Similarly, Marc Casado is also absent from the list.
Meanwhile, the new signing Rodri Hernandez has also not been named in the list, but this was expected as [Flick had already confirmed in a recent presser](https://barcanewsnetwork.com/hansi-flick-talks-alvarez-cancelo-rodri-balde-ahead-of-elche-vs-barcelona/) that he would start training with the team from Monday. Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji also remain absent because of their injuries.
Meanwhile, other new signings like Joao Cancelo, Karim Adeyemi, and Anthony Gordon have all been named in this squad. Hamza Abdelkarim, who was signed permanently this summer, but is essentially a youth team player, has also been called up by Flick following his impressive performances during the preseason. He is accompanied by other players from La Masia, including Alvaro Cortes, Pesquer, and Xavi Espart.
The full squad announced by Barcelona is as follows:
**Goalkeepers**
1. Joan Garcia
2. Wojciech Szczesny
3. Eder Aller
**Defenders**
1. Joao Cancelo
2. Pau Cubarsi
3. Andreas Christensen
4. Gerard Martin
5. Jules Kounde
6. Eric Garcia
7. Cortes
8. Pesquer
9. Xavi Espart
**Midfielders**
1. Gavi
2. Fermin Lopez
3. Pedri
4. Dani Olmo
5. Marc Bernal
6. Brian Farinas
**Forwards**
1. Lamine Yamal
2. Raphinha
3. Karim Adeyemi
4. Anthony Gordon
5. Hamza Abdelkarim
**Injured**
1. Frenkie de Jong
2. Roony Bardghji
**Missing**
1. Alejandro Balde
2. Marc Casado