Barcelona will kick off their 2026-27 La Liga campaign against Elche on Sunday night
Manager Hansi Flick oversaw major squad changes, signing Rodri, Anthony Gordon, and Karim Adeyemi
Elche, led by new manager Martin Anselmi, started their season with a 1-1 draw against Deportivo La Coruna
Barcelona open their 2026-27 La Liga campaign against Elche on Sunday night. The Catalan team aim to mount a successful title defence this season, with their main competition set to again come from Real Madrid.
Elche have already commenced their domestic campaign. They recorded a 1-1 draw against Deportivo La Coruna on August 17.
Barcelona did not feature in the opening set of fixtures. Organisers postponed their scheduled opener against Athletic Bilbao to August 27. A number of Barcelona players were involved in the latter stages of the 2026 World Cup.
Elche Under Anselmi
Elche appointed Martin Anselmi as their new manager. The 41-year-old signed an initial one-year contract to lead the team.
The side finished 15th in Spain's top flight last season. They now face a daunting historical record. Elche are currently on a 12-game losing run against Barcelona across all competitions. They have not defeated the Catalan side since December 1974.
Anselmi has overhauled his squad to avoid another relegation battle. Elche secured eight new players during the summer transfer window to bolster their ranks.
New Look Barcelona
Barcelona completed major business in the summer transfer window. The club signed Rodri, Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi, Jesse Bisiwu and Joao Cancelo.
Two major attackers exited the squad. Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres both departed Barcelona this summer.
Manager Hansi Flick oversaw a successful preparation period. Barcelona won four of their six pre-season friendlies. They concluded their warm-up schedule with a 2-1 victory over Al Ahly. The squad will look to carry this winning momentum into the domestic league.
Team News
Elche will miss Yago Santiago and Adam Boayar due to injury. Anselmi is expected to field a 3-4-3 formation. New signing Fer Nino will start in attack. Lucas Cepeda could also feature in the final third.
Barcelona face their own selection constraints. Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji are out through injury. Summer signing Rodri is not yet ready to make his debut.
Flick is expected to hand an opportunity to youth. Hamza Abdelkarim is poised to start for Barcelona. The 18-year-old scored four goals in pre-season and impressed the coaching staff. Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez and Raphinha are also in line for spots in the final third of the field.
The backline will see adjustments. Pau Cubarsi is building match fitness following the 2026 World Cup. Eric Garcia and Jules Kounde will likely start in defence as a result.
Despite missing key personnel, the visitors hold a clear advantage.
Elche Vs Barcelona, La Liga 2026-27: Live Streaming Details
For viewers in India, the match will kick off at 01:00am IST on Monday, August 24. LaLiga’s current Indian streaming rights are held by FanCode, with the platform listed as the destination for the 2026/27 season. There is no traditional TV broadcast currently listed for Indian viewers.
