Barcelona’s perfect LaLiga start faces a different kind of examination on Wednesday, when Racing de Santander arrive at the leaders’ ground determined to make a bold statement after their return to the top flight. Hansi Flick is expected to rotate heavily before the international break, while Racing must cope with injury concerns and a defence still chasing its first clean sheet.
Key takeaways
- Barcelona have won all five league matches, collecting 15 points and moving three clear at the summit.
- Flick is likely to bring Adeyemi, Dani Olmo, João Cancelo and Jules Koundé into his starting side.
- Racing have taken seven points from five games following promotion and sit in mid-table.
- Andrés Martín is expected to miss out with a knee sprain, while goalkeeper Simon Eriksson remains doubtful.
- Raphinha has produced eight goals and three assists this season, while Lamine Yamal has scored five times in five league appearances.
Barcelona v Racing: rotation around a flying attack
Barcelona have imposed themselves early in the campaign, beating Athletic Club, Elche, Rayo Vallecano, Valencia and Levante to take the maximum 15 points. Real Madrid’s draw with Real Betis has left Flick’s side alone at the top, three points ahead of both Madrid and Betis.
The coach has increasingly settled on a familiar shape, with Joan García, Eric García, Gerard Martín, Pau Cubarsí, Espart, Rodrigo, Pedri, Fermín, Gordon, Raphinha and Lamine Yamal forming the most frequently used XI. Yet the demands of the calendar mean changes are anticipated in every area against Racing, with Adeyemi, Olmo, Cancelo and Koundé in contention to start.
Karim Adeyemi has begun to make his case despite only two starts. The German scored in the 4-2 win at Levante, sealing the result with a spectacular finish, and has also found the net against Feyenoord and Elche. Marc Bernal has likewise become an important option from the bench: he has started against Elche, Athletic and Rayo, appeared as a substitute versus Feyenoord, Valencia and Levante, and supplied assists against Rayo and Levante.
Raphinha remains Barcelona’s outstanding attacking force. His return of eight goals and three assists means he has directly contributed to 11 goals. He did not score against Levante, his first scoreless appearance of the season in all competitions, but created two goals in that match.
Lamine Yamal has also made his sharpest league start in front of goal, scoring five times in five outings. He has not yet registered an assist this term, but has already equalled his entire five-goal league total from the 2023-24 campaign, achieved across 37 appearances. Flick has backed the winger amid continuing Ballon d’Or discussion, saying: “Why would we not campaign for Lamine? He is our player.”
Barcelona are without Roony Bardghji, who has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury and is not expected back before March. Frenkie de Jong has a knee problem and should be unavailable until early October, while Gerard Martín is a doubt because of a nasal issue. Gavi is fully fit but has lost his regular place and has not featured in the league since the Elche game.
The club have also made a long-term commitment to Egyptian forward Hamza Abdelkarim, extending his contract until June 2030 and raising his release clause from €15m to €150m. Barcelona turned down loan approaches during the summer, believing that first-team training under Flick will aid his development and that his penalty-box profile can offer a solution in tight matches.
Racing arrive with belief, but with problems to solve
Racing have made a competitive start to life back in Primera División. Victories over Elche, 3-2, and Alavés, 2-1, have been followed by a 2-2 draw with Villarreal and narrow defeats to Getafe, 1-0, and Rayo Vallecano, 3-2. Their seven-point return has suggested that survival is a realistic target, even if the trip to Barcelona is their most difficult assignment so far.
“We have a mission that we all dreamed of as children: to play in venues such as tomorrow’s,” one Racing voice said ahead of the match. “It is a very difficult away game given Barcelona’s current form, but we will try to be brave, recognisable and adventurous. We know we will have to suffer.”
José Alberto is considering changes at centre-back. Belocian is expected to keep his place, with Pablo Ramón and Pedro Felipe competing for the right-sided role. Racing’s attack will be without Andrés Martín until around the middle of October because of a knee sprain, while Eriksson’s shoulder tendinopathy leaves his availability uncertain.
Julen Agirrezabala has established himself as José Alberto’s first-choice goalkeeper after leaving Athletic Club permanently following a season on loan at Valencia. The goalkeeper and his back line have, however, yet to record a shut-out: Racing have conceded nine goals in five matches before confronting the division’s most productive attack.
Sergio Canales provides the visitors’ most seasoned creative presence. The Santander-born midfielder returned after his spell in Mexico when Racing’s promotion opened the door to a homecoming, and he has started every match. His outstanding free-kick against Rayo did not deliver points, but underlined the quality Racing can carry into difficult evenings.
Racing’s summer also brought two significant departures. Nineteen-year-old Sergio Martínez joined Castilla for €3m after scoring on his top-flight debut for the Cantabrian club. Gustavo Puerta, 23, left for €16m late in the window, with Iván Martín arriving from Girona for €3m as his replacement.
Jorge Salinas remains another player attracting attention. The Racing academy product and Spain Under-19 international contributed seven assists during last season’s title-winning promotion campaign. Valued for his aerial strength, aggressive defending and ability on the ball, the left-footed defender has been compared within Racing to a left-sided Sergio Ramos in temperament and competitive edge. His €16m release clause went unmet, although Barcelona have continued to monitor him.
Barcelona academy player Brian Fariñas is still waiting for his senior debut despite receiving the No. 4 shirt and being included in squads for Elche, Athletic, Rayo and Feyenoord. He was not selected for the matches against Valencia and Levante.
Elsewhere, Barcelona’s former player Ronald Koeman has suffered a bereavement following the death of his wife, Bartina, after a prolonged period of concern over her health.
SEO title: Barcelona v Racing: Flick rotates as leaders protect perfect start
SEO description: Barcelona host Racing de Santander with a perfect LaLiga record, expected rotations and Racing seeking a statement result despite key absences.
