Barcelona projected lineup 2026/27: How Rodri changes things for Hansi Flick in hunt for Champions League title

After winning two straight La Liga titles, Barcelona have their sights set on European glory as they approach the start of the 2026/27 campaign.

The Blaugrana have won the Spanish top-flight championship in each of Hansi Flick's first two seasons in charge at the now-redeveloped Camp Nou, but crave a return to the summit of the Champions League, a competition they have not won since Lionel Messi's peak in 2015.

They have largely shrugged off the financial shackles that restrained them across the last decade and have dipped heavily into the transfer market this summer as they look to retool the squad and set themselves up for a genuine run at the UEFA trophy.

The Sporting News looks at the Barcelona squad, how it shakes out and where each player is set to contribute toward the goal of more silverware across multiple competitions.

MORE: Why the Rodri signing makes Barcelona favorites to win the Champions League

Barcelona projected lineup 2026/27

Barcelona projected starting lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): J. Garcia (GK) — J. Kounde, P. Cubarsi, E. Garcia, A. Balde — Rodri, Pedri — Lamine Yamal, D. Olmo, A. Gordon — Raphinha.

Barcelona second XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): W. Szczesny (GK) — H. Fort, A. Christensen, A. Cortes, G. Martin — Gavi, F. De Jong — R. Bardghji, F. Lopez, J. Bisiwu — K. Adeyemi.

Other squad players: A. Yaakobishvili (GK), X. Espart, M. Bernal, M. Casado, T. Fernandez.

Barcelona have an extremely strong first XI, and a few star players behind waiting in the wings, but there are positions lacking depth at the moment.

The biggest question for Hansi Flick to solve will be how to sort out the striker position. While Barcelona look to bully Atletico Madrid into selling them Julian Alvarez, there's a real possibility that transaction does not come through, leaving Barcelona without a single traditional No. 9.

Despite that, and some other depth issues, this Barcelona team is absolutely loaded with talent, and should be one of the top contenders not only to repeat as La Liga champions, but also as possible Champions League winners for the first time under Flick.

MORE: Has Hansi Flick been successful at Barcelona?

Hansi Flick tactics, style of play

Everything for Flick revolves around his team's high press, but not all high presses are the same.

While many teams using this tactic have failsafes and recovery plans if the press is broken, Barcelona respond to a broken press with, essentially, another line of pressing. It's an outrageously risky style born of Flick's time in the Gegenpressing-happy Bundesliga, but it's extremely effective when performed well.

In order to do this, Barca employ an extremely high defensive line to allow the defenders to step up and press when their attacking line and midfield line have been bypassed or broken. They employ the likes of Pau Cubarsi and Jules Kunde along the back, who are excellent at defending in open space and can track back effectively when the press is beaten.

What makes Barcelona even more unusual with this method is their desire to play this way regardless of opposition. While many of the top Bundesliga teams in the early days of Gegenpressing ramped up their approach against mid-table and lower-table league opponents who lacked the capabilities or resources to punish the high line, they also dialed things back some against more potent European rivals. Not Flick's Barcelona, who are dedicated to remaining full-throttle regardless of their opposition.

Further increasing their risky style of play are the positions of the wingers, who Flick has deployed as wide as possible. Lamine Yamal and Raphinha often receive the ball while glued to the touchline, thus allowing them to use their on-ball skills to beat opponents and cut inside once they are in possession. This is especially true for Lamine, who absorbs the majority of progressive responsibilities, while Raphinha is often making back-post runs to support the attack from the off-ball side.

While this has proven ruthlessly effective at breaking down opponents and stretching the field, it also leaves Barcelona further vulnerable to counter-attacks, as the wingers have almost no defensive responsibilities and are often caught very high. Given the full-backs on both flanks also do a solid amount of overlapping once the wingers cut inside, Barcelona are left very high up the pitch.

Barcelona new signings and outgoing transfers

Incomings

Outgoings

Barcelona strengths and weaknesses for 2026/27 season

Strength: Star power, management

This Barcelona side is exploding with world-class talent, many of them still yet to hit their peak years.

Having turned 19 in July, Lamine Yamal is the best young player in the world, and Raphinha has been on the periphery of the Ballon d'Or shortlist for two seasons running (and should have won one). Pedri has a claim to be the best midfielder in the world, Pau Cubarsi is the best young defender in the world, Dani Olmo is one of the most underrated players in Europe. The list just keeps going on.

That's all before adding the exceptional Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, who will be in the mix for another France Football trophy when the award is again handed out in October.

At some level, this extreme height of star power can cover up for a number of deficiencies around the rest of the squad, even if one or two key players were to miss due to injury.

Weakness: Centre-back, striker

Despite the star power, there are a few positions on this team that are not only extremely thin, but in some cases, non-existent.

The one in the most peril at the moment is striker, which is completely and utterly vacant after the departures of both Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres this summer. They have not brought anyone in to replace them, but are clearly attempting to do so as they chase Julian Alvarez.

If they fail to secure a true No. 9, it will have to be a mix of Anthony Gordon and Raphinha deputising up front, which they are capable of doing, but also robs the team of their world-class capabilities on the left wing. Progressing with such a plan to cover for an injury is fine across a few weeks or even months, but to go an entire season with that kind of squad makeup would be extremely detrimental to the team's chances of securing trophies.

Nearly the same is true at centre-back, where Pau Cubarsi is paired with Eric Garcia, but very little stands behind them. Only the oft-injured and occasionally exiled Andreas Christensen plus the versatile Gerard Martin stand as backups, along with youth team product Alvaro Cortes. It's an extremely thin position, especially considering Garcia has often moved around to other positions like defensive midfield or right-back in certain situations to cover for injuries or in the case of certain tactical switches.

Barcelona could do with covering these positions if they wish to hold off Real Madrid domestically and be in the mix for the European title at the end of the season.