Hansi Flick Confirms Rodri's Barcelona Debut Against Athletic Club

Rodri Set to Debut for Barcelona

Rodri, the high-profile signing from Manchester City, is expected to make his first appearance for Barcelona during their upcoming La Liga match against Athletic Club. Despite joining training early, Rodri did not feature in the opening victory over Elche but will finally step onto the Spotify Camp Nou pitch on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Gavi remains sidelined due to a knee injury sustained in the win against Elche and will miss the clash with Athletic Club.

Flick Outlines His Strategy

Coach Hansi Flick shared his plan for Rodri’s introduction, explaining that he intends to ease the midfielder into the team by giving him limited minutes initially. Flick highlighted Rodri’s experience and leadership, noting his importance in controlling the midfield alongside Pedri.

"We also have Marc Bernal in that position. Rodri has more experience; he’s the clear leader," Flick said. "Together with Pedri, he’ll allow us to control the ball and the opponent. That’s very important. We lost possession against Elche. Rodri is one of the best. We’ll enjoy having them together."

Regarding Gavi’s injury, Flick offered an optimistic update: "He’s fine, much better than after the game. We have to wait a week for him to come back."

Political Issues Affect Pre-Match Plans

The Thursday fixture takes place amid political tensions that caused Barcelona to cancel a planned tribute for their eight Spanish World Cup winners. This decision followed incidents during the 5-0 win over Elche, where police reportedly attacked fans and seized pro-independence Estelada flags.

Club president Joan Laporta condemned the police actions, calling for sanctions and defending the fans' right to express themselves freely. He stated that the ceremony would not proceed as it wasn’t the right moment.

"We condemn and reject the disproportionate action of the national police officers who assaulted Barca fans for carrying the Estelada before the Elche game," Laporta said. "We hope that appropriate punishment will help ensure that Catalans and Barca fans can carry the flag without fear of physical harm."

Looking Ahead

Barcelona aims to build on their strong start to the league. Adding Rodri’s control in midfield should address the possession issues seen against Elche, particularly facing Athletic Club's intense pressing style.

After facing Athletic Club, Barcelona stays at Camp Nou for a quick turnaround against Rayo Vallecano on Monday. Flick hopes to have Rodri playing a bigger role and Gavi close to returning for that match.

• Date: 27 August 2026, 21:00
• Match: Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao
• Competition: LaLiga