Ronald Koeman has hand-picked 11 players for the season-opener against Real Sociedad at the Camp Nou. With Lionel Messi now gone, Antoine Griezmann and Memphis Depay will spearhead the lineup on the wings, with Martin Braithwaite upfront as the central striker.
The midfield is one that Barcelona fans are way too familiar with by now. Pedri starts on the left side of the midfield three, aided by veteran Sergio Busquets as the lone pivot. Frenkie de Jong will operate on the right as a box-to-box midfielder.
There are some surprises in the defence, as Eric Garcia gets his debut for the team alongside the man he’s compared to — Gerard Pique. Sergino Dest starts as the right-back, while Jordi Alba has the responsibility of providing width from the left. Neto takes over duties in goal with Marc-Andre ter Stegen out after surgery.
Confirmed XI: Neto; Dest, Pique, Garcia, Alba; de Jong, Busquets, Pedri; Griezmann, Braithwaite, Depay
