Barcelona's Champions League Squad: Abdelkarim and Bisiu Promoted
Barcelona have locked in their 25-man squad for the Champions League league phase, and the list says plenty about both the club’s injury misfortune and its faith in emerging talent.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the Catalan side have registered only players on first-team contracts in their UEFA List A, a group that now officially includes Egyptian defender Hamza Abdelkarim and Belgian youngster Jesse Bisiu. Both step up from the reserve ranks on the European stage.
Abdelkarim and Bisiu promoted to List A
Abdelkarim keeps the number 29 shirt and Bisiu stays with 27, the same numbers they wear in La Liga. Domestically, they remain on reserve-team contracts. In Europe, they cross a line.
To get them into the Champions League, Barcelona had to name both on List A as first-team players. They did not qualify for List B, which is reserved for club-trained youngsters who have spent at least two consecutive years in the academy, or three consecutive years including a loan of no more than one season within the same federation. Those rules shut the door on the “youth list” route and forced Barça to use up two senior slots.
It is a clear vote of confidence. Abdelkarim and Bisiu are no longer just depth options for weekend rotations; they are part of the European plan.
Bardghji’s season wiped out
The major omission is Roony Bardghji. The Swedish forward has been left out after suffering a serious knee injury that will rule him out for the entire season.
His absence comes after a difficult campaign in which he struggled for minutes, blocked in part by the rise of Lamine Yamal in his preferred position. Any hope of using Europe to relaunch his Barça career disappears with this list. The injury closes that door before the group stage even begins.
Fariñas walks the line between lists
One name sits in a different category altogether. Brian Fariñas has been placed on Barcelona’s academy list, the Champions League List B, which clubs can update up to 24 hours before each match.
The midfielder will wear number 28 in Europe, lining up alongside the rest of the club’s academy players on that list. The twist: in La Liga, Fariñas already wears number 4 with the first team.
The discrepancy underlines how sharply UEFA’s registration rules cut. Domestically, he carries a senior number and increasingly senior responsibilities. In the Champions League, he remains officially an academy player, protected by List B and the flexibility it gives the club.
Barcelona’s paperwork is done. The real question now is whether this blend of established stars, emergency promotions and carefully managed prospects can carry them deep into Europe.
