Barcelona begin their La Liga title defence on the road at Mallorca on August 16.
Hansi Flick’s side will play their first three games of the campaign away from home as the club works towards a Camp Nou return in mid-September.
Those plans remain unconfirmed, as Barcelona await the green light from local authorities to return to their iconic home, and it’s likely only a partial opening will be permitted next month.
There has also been stacks of off-field drama in the build-up to the new season with captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s injury dominating the narrative in recent weeks.
After removing and reinstating his captaincy, Barcelona have now received confirmation from La Liga over their plan to utilise a portion of his salary space to register Joan Garcia.
However, that is just one hurdle passed for club president Joan Laporta, as several more registrations remain outstanding ahead of the flight to Palma.
Ahead of the opening game of the La Liga season, The Sporting News takes a look at three key issues facing Flick.
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Rashford’s registration question unanswered
Garcia’s registration means he will start in goal on his La Liga debut with Ter Stegen ruled out. The length of the German’s absence will be addressed further down the line, but it’s an important box ticked by Barcelona.
The next set of paperwork to be filled focuses on Marcus Rashford, who remains in limbo in Catalonia, as Barcelona sit outside La Liga’s 1:1 transfer policy.
Laporta has an ace up his sleeve to get Rashford registered by the end of August, but that is not his preference, as the club seek to avoid a Dani Olmo-style embarrassment.
Robert Lewandowski is set to miss out due to a muscle injury, but as the clock ticks down for Rashford, Flick could go for Ferran Torres as a starter to cover his bases.
Lewandowski’s absence had been viewed as a perfect chance for Rashford to step up but nothing is ever simple with Laporta’s Barcelona.
Can Araujo fill Martinez gap?
As part of the scramble to sell players to meet their La Liga target, Barcelona have been forced to make some bold choices, including accepting a offer from Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr for Inigo Martinez.
Martinez was superb for Flick last season as he and Pau Cubarsi started 28 La Liga games together at the heart of Barcelona’s defence.
It was an ideal balance of Cubarsi’s huge potential and maturity matched with Martinez’s gritty experience and the pair dovetailed perfectly.
However, as finances continue to tighten, the Basque defender was viewed as expendable and Al Nassr swooped in.
Cubarsi remains unmoved as a starter, but Martinez’s exit brings Ronald Araujo back into the first XI, after an injury-disrupted 12 months.
On form, the Uruguayan is outstanding, but there are doubts over his consistency and he will need to re-adapt to playing alongside a youngster.
Pedri, De Jong, plus one in midfield
Pedri is the hub of this Barcelona team – something which has already caught Rashford’s attention – and he completed 37 out of 38 La Liga appearances in 2024/25.
Frenkie de Jong looks to have come full circle, with his injury issues behind him, and a new contract on the table for the Dutchman back on the table.
With Lamine Yamal, Lewandowski and Raphinha electric as a front three, the question remains over who operates just behind, and Flick is not short on options.
Fermin Lopez scored twice – alongside De Jong and Pedri – in the 5-0 Joan Gamper Trophy win over Como, but his starting place is not certain.
Dani Olmo was the chosen pick in the run-in last season, but he started just once in preseason, meaning Gavi and Lopez can challenge to start in Palma.
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