The La Liga 2025-26 seson kicks off with Barcelona vs Mallorca, a fixture that will see Hansi Flick’s men aiming to start strong after an intense pre-season.

Based on recent training and pre-season matches, the starting XI is becoming clearer.

Joan Garcia is expected to start in goal, with Marc-André ter Stegen sidelined through injury.

The central defense pairing will likely feature Ronald Araujo alongside Pau Cubarsi, while Alejandro Balde is a certainty at left-back.

The right-back position remains undecided between Jules Kounde and Eric Garcia.

In midfield, Frenkie de Jong will control the tempo, with Pedri and Gavi providing support.

Dani Olmo remains a doubt, so Fermin Lopez—who impressed with a brace in pre-season—may start in the advanced role.

In attack, Raphinha will operate from the left, Lamine Yamal from the right, and Ferran Torres is tipped to lead the line in Robert Lewandowski’s absence.

Predicted XI for Barcelona vs Mallorca

Predicted XI: Garcia – Kounde/Eric Garcia, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde – De Jong, Pedri, Gavi – Raphinha, Ferran Torres, Yamal.

Barcelona vs Mallorca: Match Schedule and Kick-off Times

Country	Date	Time
Spain	16/08	07:30 PM
USA (ET)	16/08	01:30 PM
England (UK)	16/08	06:30 PM
India	16/08	11:00 PM
Brazil	16/08	02:30 PM

Key Absences and Available Players for Barcelona vs Mallorca

Barcelona will be without Ter Stegen and Lewandowski, while Kounde’s availability is still uncertain.

On the positive side, Balde and De Jong are fully fit, and Yamal continues his rapid rise as one of Europe’s brightest young stars.

Mallorca also face injury concerns and could adopt a defensive approach to contain Barcelona’s attacking threat.

Barcelona’s Tactical Approach vs Mallorca

For this Barcelona vs Mallorca clash, Hansi Flick is likely to deploy an aggressive pressing system, aiming to control possession and exploit the wings.

With Mallorca expected to defend deep, Barcelona will rely on quick passing and width from Raphinha and Yamal to stretch the opposition.

Frenkie de Jong’s role as the deep-lying playmaker will be crucial in transitioning the ball from defense to attack, while Balde’s overlapping runs and Cubarsi’s composure at the back will be key to maintaining both defensive stability and attacking momentum.