The timing couldn't be worse for Hansi Flick. FC Barcelona is preparing to play its most important match of the season this Sunday at the Santiago Bernabéu against Real Madrid. But the German technician will have to deal with a squad in tatters, decimated by injuries. The day before the Clasico, a new tile fell: Raphinha will not play. The Brazilian has not recovered from his leg muscle injury. And to make matters worse, Flick will not even be on the bench, suspended after his expulsion against Girona. His assistant Marcus Sorg will lead the team from the sidelines.
Flick remains ambitious despite everything
The list of absentees is dizzying. Raphinha, therefore, but also Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo, Gavi, and the goalkeepers Joan Garcia and Marc-André ter Stegen. Six executives from the team will be missing. Unheard of for a Clasico. Fortunately, Ferran Torres, Jules Koundé, Andreas Christensen and Frenkie De Jong took part in Saturday's training. Marcus Rashford, author of an excellent start to the season on loan with five goals and six assists in twelve games, could even start in attack. A Clasico against his teammate Jude Bellingham.
Despite this catastrophic situation, Hansi Flick did not give up. In his pre-match remarks, the German was very ambitious. According to several sources, he is preparing an offensive tactic to undermine Real Madrid. There is no question of coming to the Bernabéu as a resigned victim. Flick wants to play his luck bravely, even with a reshuffled squad. Marcus Sorg confirmed this approach:
“Any team would miss Raphinha, but the situation is what it is. He is injured. We'll see if Ferran Torres starts, we'll decide tomorrow. Jules Koundé also participated in training this morning and could play. I still have no idea about the starting XI. »
Yamal sets fire before the match
Tension is also rising off the field. Lamine Yamal provoked Real Madrid during a Twitch live before the match: “They steal, they complain, and they do things. » Words which did not please Dani Carvajal, Madrid captain, who announced that he wanted to confront the Catalan prodigy at the end of the match. Andres Iniesta tempers: “It’s a comment to add a little spice to the Clasico. A lot of importance is always given to what is said, especially before a match like this. But what really matters is what happens in those 90 minutes. »
Barça therefore presents itself at the Bernabéu diminished, but not resigned. Flick will have to make do with the means at hand, cobble together a competitive eleven, hope that Rashford shines, that Koundé holds up physically, that De Jong brings his vista. An experimental Clasico, with a reduced bench and an absent coach. But the ambition remains intact. Sunday evening, we will know if courage was enough.
