FC Barcelona and Real Betis named their starting lineups before kickoff, with both coaches making notable adjustments for a league match that already carried extra weight. Hansi Flick included Joan García, Koundé and Lamine Yamal in Barcelona's XI, while Manuel Pellegrini made eight changes from the team that played Oporto.
The confirmed teams showed how both clubs are trying to balance immediate results with squad management. Barcelona came into the match after its win in Istanbul against Galatasaray in Champions League play a few days earlier, and Flick again opted to rotate while keeping key players available. Raphinha and Frenkie were newly included in the squad for this one, adding to Barcelona's options in a game where the leader needed solutions up front.
Flick backs Barcelona's striker options
Before the match, Flick made clear that Barcelona had to look for answers in attack. He pointed to Dani Olmo as one of those solutions at center forward, saying the club needed to find ways to make the role work. His message was not just about filling a spot, but about using the players available in the right way.
Flick also said he was pleased with what he had seen from Dani Olmo, describing him as an exceptional player and praising his commitment and form. He stressed that Olmo gives Barcelona another strong option in the middle and noted that he had performed well in the recent match against Galatasaray.
Pellegrini asks for focus against Barcelona
Pellegrini, meanwhile, approached the game with a clear warning about the challenge Barcelona presents. He said Betis would need concentration and intensity, especially because Barcelona can punish mistakes quickly. He also pointed to the need to stay organized defensively while still trying to keep Betis' own attacking rhythm intact.
Making eight changes from the side that played Oporto, Pellegrini's lineup underlined the demands of a busy schedule and the importance of squad depth. The changes did not reduce the urgency of the occasion, but they did show how Betis is managing minutes while still treating the Barcelona test as a major league challenge.
For Barcelona, the rotation again reflected a squad that Flick believes is engaged and improving. He has said the group is committed, that the performance level has been high, and that having different alternatives makes it easier to make changes without losing quality. Against Betis, that depth was on display before the first whistle.
