Hansi Flick made three changes to Barcelona’s starting line-up for Barcelona Vs Racing Santander, and the most striking one was Pau Cubarsí dropping out for rest. Barcelona published its team for the 21.30 hours kickoff at the Spotify Camp Nou as it chased a sixth consecutive victory and a perfect 18 points from six matchdays.
The selection was built around that target. Joan Garcia, Eric Garcia, Andreas Christensen, Gerard Martín and Joao Cancelo formed the defense, with Rodri Hernández and Pedri González in midfield and Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Karim Adeyemi and Raphinha Dias in attack. It was a line-up intended to keep the run alive, not to protect the result after the fact.
That is why Cubarsí drew the most attention. The rotation was described as three changes from the Levante match on Sunday, yet the selection discussion named four players coming in and four leaving, a reminder that one squad decision can ripple across several positions even when only a handful of starters are altered. The balance was also shaped by availability, with Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji injured and left out of the 23-player squad.
There was another omission that mattered, even if it did not carry the same surprise. Brian Fariñas was the tactical sacrifice from a pool of 24 available players, while Wojciech Szczesny and Dominik Livakovic stayed on the bench along with Jules Koundé, Pau Cubarsí, Xavi Espart and Alejandro Balde. Pablo Páez 'Gavi', Marc Bernal and Fermín López were among the midfield options, and Anthony Gordon, Gabriel Jesus and Hamza Abdelkarim were listed as forwards waiting their turn.
The wider picture is straightforward: Barcelona is trying to preserve a perfect league start while managing the strain of a crowded squad. Cubarsí’s rest suggests Flick is willing to take a calculated risk with one of his most notable young defenders, and the next test is whether that choice keeps the momentum intact at Spotify Camp Nou or makes the selection debate louder after the match.
