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While being one of the most highlighted signings of the summer, Rodri won't be taking part of FC Barcelona's debut game in the 2026-27 La Liga against Elche CF. Rodri stands as one of FC Barcelona‘s most high-profile marquee signings during the 2026 summer transfer window. Now, as the Blaugrana open their 2026-27 La Liga campaign away against Elche CF on Sunday, August 23, questions have arisen over his complete absence from the matchday squad. Rodri will not participate in the season opener against Elche due to a lack of match fitness. Having recently finalized his move to Barcelona following an extended post-World Cup vacation and rehabilitation from a minor back procedure, the Spanish international has logged only a handful of training sessions with his new club. Consequently, head coach Hansi Flick decided to leave Rodri out of the 23-man squad entirely, keeping him in Catalonia to complete his recovery rather than traveling to the Martinez Valero Stadium. In his absence, Gavi and Marc Bernal will be covering the double pivot in midfield, with Pedri also available in the rotation. Thus far, Rodri has been following a tailored conditioning program to regain peak fitness following Spain’s deep run to the 2026 World Cup final. During recent session blocks, the midfielder trained separately under an individualized regimen, making an appearance against Elche an unrealistic expectation for the coaching staff. ❗| Rodri is still training individually to gain rhythm. It seems like he will NOT be available for the match against Elche tomorrow. [@NachoJP_] #fcblive 🔴pic.twitter.com/zXAVdslMH0— BarçaTimes (@BarcaTimes) August 22, 2026 Speaking in Saturday’s pre-match press conference, Flick addressed Rodri’s timeline after the marquee signing was spotted participating in light gym work alongside the squad: “He also trained on the pitch, he’s very concentrated, he’s focused on going back, an our plan is that he’ll arrive on Monday with the team. This is the plan, and we’re happy that he’s here.“ The German manager also underscored the tactical value of incorporating a world-class holding midfielder into his scheme. “He’s a fantastic player, a leader, and his personality is really great,” Flick stated, hoping to integrate the veteran into the squad for Thursday’s clash against Athletic Bilbao on August 27. La Liga debut following the World Cup With the 2026 World Cup extending deep into July, La Liga adjusted its opening-month calendar to allow international stars adequate recovery time. In Barcelona‘s case, key figures like Jules Kounde, Joao Cancelo, Pedri, Dani Olmo, and Anthony Gordon, who featured in the tournament’s final weekend, will begin Sunday’s match on the substitute bench. Regarding his rotation strategy for World Cup veterans, Flick emphasized patience: “It is normal that the players who played in the World Cup don’t play the full 90 minutes, though they may have to play a few minutes. You have to manage the minutes, and it isn’t easy. There are no valid excuses. We have to start by winning the first match. It won’t be easy because Elche controls the ball and moves it quickly. It won’t be easy. We have tremendous quality and we want the three points.“
With AC Milan debuting in the 2026-27 Serie A against Torino, Christian Pulisic and Luka Modric will be two of the team stars starting on the subs bench. AC Milan are making their 2026-27 Serie A season debut in a road match against Torino on Sunday, August 23, at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino. As the starting lineups were unveiled, the absence of USMNT star Christian Pulisic and Croatian icon Luka Modric from the XI raised plenty of eyebrows. Christian Pulisic will begin the match against Torino on the substitute bench as part of a fitness-management decision by head coach Ruben Amorim. The USMNT forward is still working his way back from a severe injury sustained during the World Cup, where he suffered a microfracture and bone edema in the tibia and fibula of his right leg. Pulisic only returned to full team training sessions two days prior to the Torino match. Given that short ramp-up window, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Alphadjo Cisse will start in the dual No. 10 roles, though the American star traveled with the squad and could feature as a second-half substitute. Meanwhile, Luka Modric starts on the bench due to a purely tactical choice by Amorim. Throughout recent preseason friendlies, the Portuguese manager favored Ardon Jashari in the double pivot alongside Yunus Musah, with the Swiss midfielder getting the nod on opening day over the veteran Croatian, who will await his opportunity off the bench. Amorim names his first Serie A XI 📋Brought to you by 𝗞𝘂𝗺𝗵𝗼 𝗧𝗶𝗿𝗲 pic.twitter.com/ZYy5f8HbpQ— AC Milan (@acmilan) August 23, 2026 Numerous huge absences in Milan Modric and Pulisic remain the two highest-profile names starting on AC Milan’s substitute bench. However, a significant group of key players who have previously featured as core figures for the Rossoneri were omitted from the squad entirely. The players completely left off the team sheet for the opener against Torino are Fikayo Tomori, Youssouf Fofana, Christopher Nkunku, and Rafael Leao. All four stars are currently on the transfer block evaluating incoming offers, leading Amorim to hold them out of the squad while their departures are finalized. Torino and AC Milan’s confirmed lineups Torino’s confirmed lineup (3-4-2-1): Diego Mascardi; Pietro Comuzzo, Ardian Ismajli, Saul Coco; Marcus Pedersen, Gvidas Gineitis, Kian Fitz-Jim, Alessio Cacciamani; Cesare Casadei, Nikola Vlasic; Giovanni Simeone.Head coach: Ignazio Abate AC Milan’s confirmed lineup (3-4-2-1): Mike Maignan; Mario Gila, Koni De Winter, Strahinja Pavlovic; Samuel Chukwueze, Yunus Musah, Ardon Jashari, Pervis Estupiñan; Alphadjo Cisse, Ruben Loftus-Cheek; Goncalo Ramos.Head coach: Ruben Amorim.
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