Barcelona named a 24-player squad for Sunday’s Levante Vs Barcelona trip to the Ciutat de València, and the list brought two notable names back into view: Eric García and Hamza Abdelkarim. García returned after missing the Feyenoord match through suspension, while Abdelkarim was included again as Barça prepared for its fifth Liga game of the season.
The timing matters because Barça go into the match as the league leaders, four wins from four and 12 points already banked. Levante sit 13th with 5 points, so this is a meeting between a side chasing control of the table and another trying to steady itself early in the season.
Hansi Flick’s selection gives a clear picture of how he is managing the squad. Joan García, Szczęsny and Ter Stegen were named as goalkeepers, while the defensive group included João Cancelo, Balde, Cubarsí, Xavi Espart, Christensen, Gerard Martín, Koundé and Eric García. In midfield, Brian Fariñas, Gavi, Fermín López, Pedri, Rodri, Dani Olmo and Marc Bernal were listed. The attacking options were Gabriel Jesus, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Ademi, Anthony Gordon and Hamza Abdelkarim.
The return of García is the detail that will draw the closest watch. He had missed the Feyenoord game and was set to wear a protective mask for his nose after the injury he suffered against Valence in Liga, which makes his presence in the squad more notable than a routine call-up. Whether that means a start or only a place among the substitutes is not stated, and that uncertainty is part of the story: Flick has him available, but the coach still has to decide how much risk the defender can handle so soon after the injury.
Abdelkarim’s inclusion carries a different kind of weight. Barcelona recently extended his contract until 2030, and his place in the squad shows that Flick is keeping him in the frame while the team balances continuity with the demands of a league race that is already moving fast. With Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji still out because of injury, Barça are not simply choosing from a full deck; they are adjusting around absences even while the results keep coming.
That is why Sunday’s trip is more than a routine league date. Barcelona arrive after beating Feyenoord 5-1 and after a perfect league start, but the squad sheet still shows the limits of that momentum. If García appears, it will be a sign that Flick trusts the mask and the recovery enough to use him. If he stays on the bench, the club’s next move will be just as revealing: the most important choices may still be the ones left for the final team sheet.
