Barcelona begin La Liga title defense at Elche

Defending Spanish La Liga champions Barcelona will begin their 2026-27 title campaign on Sunday, August 23, with an away match against Elche at Estadio Martínez Valero. The fixture marks the league debut for several of Barcelona’s high-profile summer signings and the start of a season where the club aims to secure a third consecutive domestic crown while pursuing Champions League success.

Barcelona enters the match as overwhelming favorites after finishing with 94 points last season, 8 points clear of runner-up Real Madrid. The team has undergone significant squad changes over the summer. The most notable arrival is defensive midfielder Rodri, signed from Manchester City. However, coach Hansi Flick confirmed Rodri will miss the opener as he continues his integration with the squad, though he could be available for the next match. The club has also bolstered its attack with the additions of Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi, addressing the departures of veterans Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres.

Flick’s primary selection headache lies in finding a replacement for Lewandowski’s goal threat. The coach praised the preseason form of 18-year-old striker Hamza Abdelkarim, who scored...