Barcelona will be without a number of first-team players for their 2021-22 La Liga opener against Real Sociedad on Sunday night, with new signing Sergio Aguero among those missing out.

Aguero will be unavailable until possibly November due to a calf problem, while Ousmane Dembele, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Oscar Mingueza and Ansu Fati are also definitely out of this match.

Head coach Ronald Koeman is also unlikely to be able to call upon either Clement Lenglet or Frenkie de Jong due to recent injuries, meaning that it will be a testing start to the season.

Neto is set to feature between the sticks, while the problems at centre-back, with new signing Eric Garcia allegedly not yet available due to his international commitments over the summer, could see Ronald Araujo start alongside Gerard Pique.

Pedri has played a lot of football for Spain this summer but is being tipped to feature in central midfield alongside Sergio Busquets and Sergi Roberto.

Memphis Depay should make his debut for the Catalan giants off the left, which could leave Antoine Griezmann on the right and Martin Braithwaite being given the nod through the middle.

Philippe Coutinho is now available for selection following a serious knee injury, but it is incredibly unlikely that the Brazil international will be pressed into starting action on Sunday night.

Barcelona possible starting lineup: Neto; Dest, Pique, Araujo, Alba; Roberto, Busquets, Pedri; Memphis, Braithwaite, Griezmann

Written by
Matt Law