Hansi Flick starts Dominik Livaković over Wojciech Szczęsny for Barcelona’s Sevilla test

Livaković gets the nod at Sevilla

Hansi Flick has handed summer signing Dominik Livaković his La Liga debut, selecting him ahead of Wojciech Szczęsny for Barcelona’s visit to Sevilla.

The decision came after first-choice goalkeeper Joan Garcia was ruled out with a knee injury suffered in midweek. Szczęsny had been widely expected to start after coming off the bench against Racing Santander, but Flick instead turned to the Croatian international.

Asked before kick-off why Livaković had been preferred, Flick said Barcelona’s preparation had led him to make a change in goal.

“We analysed everything, and we decided that we needed a change in the goalkeeper position. And that’s what we did.”

In comments reported before the match, Flick also highlighted the intensity expected at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, saying Sevilla would be “very aggressive” and that Barcelona had to be prepared for the atmosphere and the challenge.

Flick makes further changes

The Barcelona coach also kept Joao Cancelo at left-back instead of Xavi Espart, while replacing Karim Adeyemi with Anthony Gordon.

Flick described the Cancelo-Espart decision as a difficult one because the two players are closely matched. He said Gordon’s qualities offered Barcelona greater control for a match of this nature, even though Adeyemi is the quicker player.

“Adeyemi and Gordon are playing the way we want. Karim is quicker, but Anthony is fast and gives us more control. In games like today’s, that’s important.”

Barcelona entered the final fixture before the international break seeking a seventh consecutive La Liga victory and aiming to preserve their perfect start to the title defence.