Hansi Flick readying 3 changes to Barcelona line-up for Valladolid clash

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick is preparing a trio of changes to his starting XI, for the club’s next outing this weekend.

Barca, of course, will mark their return to action on Saturday evening, in a La Liga meeting with Real Valladolid.

The Blaugrana will head into proceedings with confidence high in the camp, fresh off a trio of successive victories to open the campaign.

The latest came in midweek, when Flick and co. emerged from Vallecas on the right side of a 2-1 result.

In turn, it may come as something of a surprise to hear of the Barcelona coaching staff preparing several changes for tomorrow.

It must be remembered, though, that the opening weeks of the La Liga campaign have proven rather jam-packed.

Not only that, but the Catalans were dealt a heavy blow in midweek, by way of youngster Marc Bernal being ruled out for the long-term owing to an ACL tear.

The 17-year-old will therefore require replacing moving forward.

And, on Saturday, fellow La Masia product Marc Casadó is expected to be the player tasked with stepping in for Bernal.

That’s according to Barca insider Toni Juanmartí of Diario Sport, who points towards a trio of alterations being lined up by Flick and co.

The changes in question? Casadó for Bernal, Alejandro Balde for Gerard Martín, and summer signing Dani Olmo stepping into a starting role, likely pushing Raphinha back to the wing, and Ferran Torres to the bench.

Conor Laird | GSFN