Casado, Rashford start in a 4-2-3-1 – How Barcelona can line up against Sevilla

Barcelona return to La Liga action on Sunday evening when they welcome Sevilla to Spotify Camp Nou in a fixture that could prove pivotal to the title race. With Real Madrid’s mid-week victory over Elche trimming the gap at the top to a single point, Hansi Flick’s side can ill-afford a slip-up against an opponent fighting at the opposite end of the table.

The Catalans arrive at the weekend on the back of a bruising 1-1 draw away to Newcastle United in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round-of-16 tie. While the result keeps the tie delicately poised ahead of the return leg at Camp Nou, it has also left Flick with the unenviable task of managing fatigue across a squad already stretched by injuries.

Compounding the pressure is the political backdrop: club members will cast their ballots in the presidential election throughout the day, adding an extra layer of significance to events on the pitch.

Sevilla, languishing in 14th and still casting nervous glances toward the relegation zone, stunned Barcelona with a 4-1 rout earlier this season. Although the Blaugrana have won seven of the last eight meetings between the sides, that shock defeat will linger in the memory and provides added motivation for revenge.

Injuries have forced Flick into a defensive reshuffle. Joan Garcia is set to retain his place in goal after overcoming a minor training setback, but the back four will have a makeshift look. Andreas Christensen, Alejandro Balde and Jules Kounde are all unavailable, prompting Flick to dip into the academy. Teenager Xavi Espart is in line for a senior debut at right-back, while Joao Cancelo is expected to switch to the left. In the middle, Gerard Martin could partner 17-year-old Pau Cubarsi, handing Barcelona one of the youngest defensive units in recent memory.

The midfield also requires recalibration. Frenkie de Jong remains sidelined, and with the Newcastle return leg looming, rotation is likely. Marc Casado is poised to anchor the midfield as the single pivot, with Pedri and Dani Olmo operating ahead of him. Olmo’s inclusion would allow Fermin Lopez a breather after a hectic schedule.

Further forward, Flick has hinted at freshening up his attacking trio. Lamine Yamal, despite scoring in back-to-back matches, may be preserved for the Champions League, opening the door for Marcus Rashford to make his first La Liga start on the wing. Ferran Torres’ barren run—nine games without a goal—has put his starting role as centre-forward under scrutiny, though no alternative striker is explicitly mentioned in Flick’s provisional plans.

Should Flick proceed with the 4-2-3-1 being floated in training, Barcelona would line up as follows: Garcia; Espart, Cubarsi, Martin, Cancelo; Casado; Pedri, Olmo; Rashford, Torres, with the final attacking slot—potentially Yamal if the coach has a late change of heart—decided after Saturday’s final session.

A victory against Sevilla would not only extend Barcelona’s slender advantage over Madrid but also serve as a statement of intent before the decisive Champions League second leg. For Flick, balancing immediate league demands with European ambitions has rarely been trickier, yet the German coach has shown a willingness to trust youth and rotate decisively. Sunday’s selection will reveal just how bold he is prepared to be.