Flick has only one guaranteed starter against Atlético Madrid

Since arriving at FC Barcelona in the summer of 2024, Hansi Flick has faced Atlético Madrid eight times, most recently in the latest LaLiga 2024–2025 matchday. Across those eight meetings, he has been forced to field eight different starting lineups. Only one Barça player has featured in all of them: Pau Cubarsí.

He has not missed a single one of those games, neither through injury nor suspension, across LaLiga and the Copa del Rey, with a record of five wins, one draw, and two defeats. Jules Koundé, Alejandro Balde, and Pedri could also have appeared in all eight matches, but injuries prevented them from doing so. Lamine Yamal missed the first encounter due to injury.

Cubarsí is set to anchor the defense against Atlético in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals. Last season, he started both LaLiga meetings as well as the Copa del Rey clash, consistently forming a center back partnership with Iñigo Martínez.

So far in the 2025–2026 campaign, Cubarsí has started all four matches played to date, including two in LaLiga and one in the Copa del Rey. He has partnered Gerard Martín on three occasions and the versatile Eric García once.