Sofia Quijada
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FC Barcelona host Racing Santander in Spanish La Liga on Wednesday 16 September 2026, and both predicted lineups point to sides that have barely changed shape in recent weeks. The projections below are built from who has actually started lately rather than any official announcement, and the settled pattern at both clubs is the standout theme heading into kickoff. That consistency makes this a useful game to study team news and rotation trends before the teams are confirmed.
Predicted FC Barcelona Line-up
Hansi Flick’s side is projected in a 4-2-3-1, which matches his own preferred formation and suggests no tactical surprise is expected. The group is largely settled, with 9 of the projected XI starting their last match, underlining how stable selection has been across the sample used here. Joan García and Lamine Yamal stand out most, both having started all six matches used for this projection, a sign of just how central they’ve become to the side. Behind them the midfield options rotate a little more, but the spine of the expected XI looks well established.
FC Barcelona predicted XI: Joan García; Pau Cubarsí, Xavi Espart, Gerard Martín, Eric García; Pedri, Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante, Fermín López, Daniel Olmo Carvajal, Marc Bernal; Lamine Yamal
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 6 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | Joan García | 6/6 | 3/3 |
| D | 5 | Pau Cubarsí | 5/6 | 3/3 |
| D | 12 | Xavi Espart | 5/6 | 2/3 |
| D | 18 | Gerard Martín | 4/6 | 2/3 |
| D | 24 | Eric García | 4/6 | 2/3 |
| M | 8 | Pedri | 5/6 | 3/3 |
| M | 16 | Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante | 3/6 | 3/3 |
| M | 7 | Fermín López | 4/6 | 2/3 |
| M | 20 | Daniel Olmo Carvajal | 2/6 | 1/3 |
| M | 22 | Marc Bernal | 3/6 | 0/3 |
| F | 10 | Lamine Yamal | 6/6 | 3/3 |
Predicted Racing Santander Line-up
José Alberto López’s team is also projected in a 4-2-3-1, matching his preferred setup, and it is a settled side – 10 of the projected XI started their last match. Julen Agirrezabala and Alvaro Mantilla lead the way for consistency, each having started all five matches used in this projection. That level of repetition across defence and goalkeeper roles suggests the coach has found a template he trusts, even if a couple of midfield slots have seen slightly more turnover recently.
Racing Santander predicted XI: Julen Agirrezabala; Alvaro Mantilla, Jorge Salinas Viadero, Manu Hernando, Pablo Ramon Parra; Iñigo Vicente, Sergio Canales, Iván Martín, Matteo Prati, Pablo García; Yassir Zabiri
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 5 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 13 | Julen Agirrezabala | 5/5 | 3/3 |
| D | 2 | Alvaro Mantilla | 5/5 | 3/3 |
| D | 17 | Jorge Salinas Viadero | 5/5 | 3/3 |
| D | 4 | Manu Hernando | 3/5 | 2/3 |
| D | 5 | Pablo Ramon Parra | 3/5 | 1/3 |
| M | 10 | Iñigo Vicente | 5/5 | 3/3 |
| M | 20 | Sergio Canales | 5/5 | 3/3 |
| M | 23 | Iván Martín | 3/5 | 3/3 |
| M | 18 | Matteo Prati | 2/5 | 2/3 |
| M | 15 | Pablo García | 2/5 | 2/3 |
| F | 21 | Yassir Zabiri | 3/5 | 3/3 |
Injuries and Suspensions
Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji are out injured, which thins both the midfield and attacking options available to Flick for this trip. Of the bench players tracked here, Raphael Dias Belloli has been the most involved with six starts across the matches used, making him the likeliest man to step into an attacking role if changes are needed.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frenkie de Jong | M | injured | Jumpers knee |
| Roony Bardghji | F | injured | Jumpers knee |
Andrés Martín is out injured, while André Almeida is unavailable through suspension, leaving gaps in both the forward line and central midfield for Racing Santander. Among the bench options, Gustavo Puerta has the most recent starts of the group and looks the most experienced replacement if a change is required there.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| André Almeida | M | suspended | Red card suspension |
| Andrés Martín | F | injured | Jumpers knee |
How These Line-ups Were Picked
Each projection uses that side’s last set of line-ups – six for FC Barcelona and five for Racing Santander – with more recent matches weighted more heavily than older ones. Any player confirmed injured or suspended has been removed from selection entirely before the expected XI was built. This is a projection, not a confirmed team sheet, and it can and will change once the official lineup is announced closer to kickoff.
Read also: Barcelona vs Racing Santander Prediction: 16.09.2026 La Liga
Read also: Barcelona vs Racing Santander Head-to-Head: Record, Stats & Form (Updated September 2026)
FAQ
What formation are FC Barcelona and Racing Santander expected to line up in?
Both sides are projected in a 4-2-3-1, matching the preferred shape of each head coach based on recent selections.
Who is predicted to start in goal for FC Barcelona vs Racing Santander?
Joan García is projected in goal for FC Barcelona having started all six matches used here, while Julen Agirrezabala is projected for Racing Santander after starting all five of his side’s sample.
Who is unavailable for FC Barcelona vs Racing Santander?
FC Barcelona are without Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji through injury, while Racing Santander are missing Andrés Martín through injury and André Almeida through suspension.
When does FC Barcelona vs Racing Santander kick off?
The Spanish La Liga fixture kicks off on Wednesday 16 September 2026.