Flick Surprises with Starting Eleven Against Olympiacos

Barcelona, Spain — FC Barcelona head coach Xavi Flick has made headlines with his unexpected lineup for the match against Olympiacos, featuring young player Dro in the starting eleven. This decision comes as a surprise after earlier reports suggested that Roony and Fermín would take the field instead.

Flick’s choices have raised eyebrows, especially regarding defender Ronald Araujo, who once again starts from the bench. Despite being a standout player in his last appearance against Girona, where he scored the winning goal, Araujo was not included in the starting lineup.

The coach has opted for Pau Cubarsí and Eric García to fill the center-back positions, continuing the same strategy as in their last match. This choice is particularly curious given the defensive errors that occurred during that game, especially in the first half.

In midfield, Flick is relying on Pedri and Casadó in a double pivot. Frenkie de Jong, who played as an attacking midfielder against Girona, will not feature in the starting eleven today. Instead, Dro takes his place, with Fermín shifting to the left wing.

This lineup decision has implications for the upcoming match against Real Madrid, where Araujo might be reinstated as a starter.