Hansi Flick’s Barcelona side enters the 2025/26 La Liga season with renewed vigor, sitting just two points behind leaders Real Madrid as they prepare for the season’s first El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabéu.
The German coach, known for his high-octane style, has transformed Barça into a possession-dominant force, boasting one of the league’s lowest PPDA ratings—passes allowed per defensive action—signaling their ruthless intent to reclaim the ball swiftly.
Despite a midweek Champions League triumph over Olympiacos, injuries to key defenders and Raphinha’s absence cast shadows over the squad’s depth.
Yet, Flick’s tactical blueprint remains unyielding, emphasizing unity and aggression to counter Madrid’s star-studded attack led by Kylian Mbappé.
In a bold pre-match move, reports from El País reveal that Flick and assistant Marcus Sorg drilled three specialized high-pressing patterns during the final session before traveling to Madrid, assigning specific players to disrupt Los Blancos’ build-up.
Fermín López was tasked with shadowing right-back Dani Carvajal, while Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford targeted the center-backs, forcing hurried passes.
On the left, Lamine Yamal was instructed to hound Álvaro Carreras, creating chaos in Madrid’s defensive third.
This setup underscores a proactive ethos: Barça won’t sit back but will impose their will, exploiting turnovers to fuel rapid counters.
Analysts note it’s a high-risk strategy, vulnerable to Madrid’s pace, but one that aligns with Flick’s Bayern-winning philosophy of relentless pressure.
Flick’s absence from the touchline—stemming from a red card against Girona, upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport—adds intrigue.
Sorg, stepping up, echoed the boss’s mantra: “We have to press high, keep our defensive line up—if we change, we lose structure.”
His praise for Flick as “the most important part of the team” highlights the seamless continuity, with the coach communicating from the stands.
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