The First Match of the Season
Barcelona will play its first La Liga 2026/27 match today at the Martínez Valero at 21:30, broadcast on Movistar LaLiga. The opponent will be Elche, who opened the season with a 1‑1 draw against Deportivo de A Coruña last Monday. For the Blaugrana, the squad announced this morning does not include Alejandro Balde, whose future remains uncertain, and it marks the third La Liga of the Hansi Flick era.
Possible Debutants
The match against Elche will be the team's presentation and its footballing proposition, but it could also mark the official debut of several new faces who joined the first team during pre‑season.
Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi
Anthony Gordon, signed from Newcastle for €70 million fixed plus €10 million in variables, and Karim Adeyemi, who arrived from Borussia Dortmund for €22 million plus €7 million variables, could debut with Barça in this game. Both players have the chance to start.
João Cancelo
Portuguese full‑back João Cancelo, who has already played on loan in the 2023/24 and 2025/26 seasons (for Manchester City and Al‑Hilal), could also make his third debut for Barça if he appears in the starting XI.
Masia in the Attack
Throughout the season, several Masia players have been called up for pre‑season with the first team. Xavi Espart and Álvaro Cortés already debuted officially last campaign and could return to minutes with Barça this Sunday.
Hamza Abdelkarim
The 18‑year‑old Egyptian forward Hamza Abdelkarim, Barça’s top scorer during pre‑season and one of the summer’s biggest revelations, would be a prime candidate to debut.
Jordi Pesquer and Brian Fariñas
Jordi Pesquer, 17‑year‑old left‑back who joined the Juvenil B only five months ago, and Brian Fariñas, 20‑year‑old midfielder from Barça Atlètic, could also receive their first opportunity with the Blaugrana shirt.
Flick’s Squad
It remains to see how Hansi Flick will set his first season lineup in domestic competition, but one thing is clear: the debut at Martínez Valero could feature several first‑team appearances for Barça.
Match Details
The match will take place at Martínez Valero at 21:30, with a broadcast on Movistar LaLiga. Barcelona, the current league champion, aims to start the season with a win over Elche, while the opponent seeks to maintain its streak of draws.
