Flick Makes Some Big Calls

FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick will field the same side that beat Athletic Club 2-0 in the Spanish Super Cup semifinal, when the Catalans face bitter rival Real Madrid in the competition’s decider for the third year running.

Even so, doing this entails the German making a couple of big selection calls between the sticks and in midfield.

Though this his first with Barca, Flick reminded us at a prematch press conference on Saturday that he has “played many finals” as a coach.

“It is a great game, it is the Super Cup and if we win it we will have great confidence for the rest of the season. Winning this match is going to be very big for everyone,” Flick added.

Though things have soured since with Barca blowing the six point lead in La Liga it gained after that victory, Flick said that he wants his team “to be a team” and play as it did in a 4-0 thrashing of Real Madrid in the Bernabeu back in October.

“We can’t compare what happened there with this game, but we’re going to try to play well,” he stated, calling Madrid “one of the best teams in the world”.

For the ex-Bayern Munich boss, playing fast and “better than against Athletic” is key “because we are talking about Real Madrid who know perfectly how to manage the game and can take advantage of any opportunity they have.”

Flick didn’t confirm whether he would drop Inaki Pena again after the youngster was punished for being late last time out.

He will do so, however, with Szczesny given the nod between the sticks and protected by a back line of Alejandro Balde, central defenders Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez, and Jules Kounde.

This means Ronald Araujo is once more overlooked, amid reports that he has informed the other captains he won’t renew his contract and instead agree to join Juventus.

Furthermore, he has also allegedly told his manager he doesn’t want to face Los Blancos.

Flick was similarly tight-lipped on whether he would go for Gavi in midfield or a Dani Olmo that has only just been cleared to play the rest of the season.

“Gavi played a great game in the last game, he has the experience and confidence to do everything and this is the most important thing for us. I think he’s going to play, but I’m not 100% sure he’s going to play,” Flick said.

Gavi will operate as the most advanced midfielder in front of Pedri and Marc Casado while flanked by wingers Raphinha and Lamine Yamal. Up top, Robert Lewandowski is the lone striker.

FC Barcelona First XI Vs. Real Madrid: Szczesny; Balde, Inigo, Cubarsi, Kounde; Pedri, Casado; Raphinha, Gavi, Lamine; Lewandowski