FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick is facing his first match of the final six La Liga fixtures without key superstar Lamine Yamal due to injury.

The German coach has opted for Roony Bardghji to take his place in the starting line-up against Getafe today, a decision that had been widely expected.

Speaking to the broadcasters before the start of the match, Flick expressed his confidence in Bardghji and backed him to come good in the absence of Lamine for Barcelona.

“He’s one of the options we’ve had all season. He’s a fantastic player and deserves to play. There was no doubt about it,” said Flick, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

Meanwhile, despite Frenkie de Jong being back from injury and playing three games as a substitute, Flick has once again opted not to include him in the starting XI.

Roony starts but no De Jong. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Instead, the Barça head coach has opted to field the double pivot of Pedri and Gavi, while Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez feature in the attacking midfield positions.

Explaining his decision not to start De Jong, Flick remarked: “He has to take it step by step. We have to be careful. There are other options in the squad.”

Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Balde, both facing uncertain futures, have also not been included in the starting XI.

Meanwhile, Robert Lewandowski has been given the nod at centre-forward in place of Ferran Torres.

Barcelona are currently eight points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid in the La Liga standings. A victory today would take them 11 points clear and all but confirm their title triumph.

However, they have not won a single league game away at Coliseum Alfonso Perez since 2019, a trend that Flick & co. will hope to change today.