Four players Hansi Flick cannot do without in the UEFA Champions League | OneFootball

As the group stage phase of the Champions League concludes, Hansi Flick has already established the core group of players who will likely play key roles in Barcelona’s quest for the final.

Out of the eight rounds, only four players—Jules Kounde, Pedri, Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski—have started every game.

In addition to these four, there is a second group that has made regular appearances, while others have had limited minutes on the field.

The core group

Kounde, Pedri, Raphinha, and Lewandowski have all featured in all eight Champions League matches, both at home at Montjuic and away.

Of these players, Kounde has been the most consistent, playing the most minutes. The French right-back has completed the full 90 minutes in seven of the eight games, with his only substitution coming in the 74th minute against Benfica.

Jules Kounde has played the most minutes in UCL for Barcelona. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)

This change was part of a tactical shift to bring on more attacking players as the match progressed.

Pedri, Raphinha, and Lewandowski have also contributed heavily, each playing a significant number of minutes.

Pedri has featured in every match, with 638 minutes to his name, although he has only completed two full games, the most recent ones against Dortmund and Benfica.

His role has been versatile, as he has alternated between the double pivot and attacking midfield positions.

Raphinha, in excellent form as a goal scorer, has completed five matches but has been substituted in games against Bayern, Red Star, and Dortmund.

His flexibility has been evident as he has played across various positions, including left midfielder, right midfielder, and even as a central midfielder, finishing the last two matches in his more familiar role.

Lewandowski, one of Europe’s top scorers, has had fewer minutes on the field, with a clear emphasis on managing his fitness for the final stages of the competition.

His shortest appearance was against Atalanta, where he played just 69 minutes. This strategy has been part of Flick’s plan to give the star striker adequate rest while still maintaining the team’s attacking strength.