Barcelona's coach Hans Flick is facing significant challenges in forming the starting team due to recurring injuries among his players, according to a report by the Spanish newspaper "Mundo Deportivo". Since taking over in August 2024, the team has recorded 38 injuries up to October 2025, averaging two to three injuries per month, while the current season has seen an average of five injuries per game.

The current notable absences include Pedri, the only player who has started in all 13 official matches, who will not be available against Elche, according to the same source. The defense has also been clearly affected due to the injuries of both Ter Stegen and Juan Garcia, as well as Balde, prompting Flick to experiment with 8 defenders and four different pairs of center-backs in recent matches.

In midfield, the German coach has relied on different double pivot combinations, with De Jong and Pedri in 8 matches, and Casado and Pedri in five matches, while Gavi has been absent from 11 encounters. The attack has seen the highest rate of lineup changes, as Flick has utilized 13 different attacking formations, including the playmaker position, to compensate for the absences.

The recurring injuries have forced Flick to make continuous adjustments to the lineup, making the team's technical management a significant challenge ahead of upcoming matches, especially against teams like Elche and Real Madrid.