Barcelona is set to resume their La Liga campaign with a home match against Catalan rivals Girona on October 18. The team, led by coach Hansi Flick, will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing international break that saw them suffer a 2-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League. This loss marked the end of their unbeaten streak at the start of the season and was compounded by a league defeat to Sevilla on October 5, allowing Real Madrid to carve out a two-point lead at the top of the standings.
The upcoming match provides an opportunity for Barcelona to regain their footing despite facing a growing injury crisis. Girona, who have struggled in the 2025/26 season with just one win in eight league outings, will aim to capitalize on Barcelona’s challenges.
Barcelona will be without key players Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres due to injuries sustained while on international duty. Lewandowski has a hamstring issue, while Torres has had to withdraw from the Spain squad because of muscle soreness. Their absence, along with Dani Olmo’s calf injury, raises doubts for the highly anticipated Clasico match against Real Madrid on October 26.
Despite these setbacks, young star Lamine Yamal is expected to return after recovering from a groin injury, providing a glimmer of hope for the squad. However, Joan Garcia and Raphinha remain sidelined for at least another week, and Flick is challenged to maintain a balanced lineup during this intense period.
The predicted starting XI for Barcelona features Wojciech Szczesny in goal, supported defensively by Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Cubarsi, and Alejandro Balde. Midfielders Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, and Casado will look to control the game, while the forward line includes Yamal, Marcus Rashford, and Bardghji.
Girona, meanwhile, faces its own challenges with Ivan Martin and Alejandro Frances suspended after their recent victory over Valencia. Viktor Tsygankov is expected to return, but Donny van de Beek and Abel Ruiz will remain out of action, adding to their difficulties.
Match details are as follows:
– Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025
– Kickoff: 4:15 p.m. local / 10:15 a.m. ET / 7:15 a.m. PT / 1:15 a.m. AEDT (October 19)
– Location: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona, Spain.
Fans are eagerly anticipating this matchup, hopeful that Barcelona can leverage their home advantage to secure a much-needed victory and turn their season around.