El Clasico Mindset: Koparci shrugs off last season’s numbers and targets Mbappe with Barca’s new focus

Koparci on Focus, Form, and Mbappe

Barcelona’s young defender Pau Koparci said the team is not preoccupied with last season’s results or the number of goals against Real Madrid. The priority is to win and deliver a strong performance when the Clasico arrives.

The Catalans are gearing up to face their arch-rivals on Sunday at the Bernabéu, as La Liga reaches its 10th round. Barcelona had dominated the four meetings last season with results of 4-0, 5-2, 3-2 and 4-3, but Koparci stressed that this game is about the current moment, not past margins or records.

In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Koparci said the fans do love big wins, yet the team’s focus remains on performing well and securing victory rather than chasing numbers. He added that he has formed good understanding with Eric Garcia in the last two matches and that all defenders enjoy the coach’s trust.

Asked about his preferred position, he replied that he enjoys playing as a right-sided center-back but is ready to cover any role the team requires.

On his teammates, Koparci explained that Garcia excels at building play from the back while Araujo is incredibly strong physically. He enjoys playing with both and notes that their positive off-field relationships aid in on-field communication.

Regarding facing Kylian Mbappé, Koparci acknowledged the French star’s danger but emphasized that defending is a collective job, not an individual feat. The team plans to make some adjustments to limit Mbappé while keeping focus on themselves.

He also commented on the cancelled Barca–Villarreal game in Miami, saying clubs were disinclined to play outside Spain and that the league’s decision should stand in the end.

Koparci praised a pair of young teammates, Drew Fernandez and Fermín López, after Barça’s 6-1 victory over Olympiakos in the Champions League, noting López’s superb performance and Fernandez’s assist despite his youth. He added that having players of that age in the squad is a special asset.

Flick’s absence

Barça received a setback before the Clasico as the disciplinary committee of the Spanish Football Federation suspended coach Hans Flick for one match, barring him from the dugout at the Bernabéu. According to AS, Barça’s appeal against Flick’s red card in the game with Girona was rejected, with the report stating the club did not provide evidence to dispute the referee’s decision. Flick was sent off after contesting a decision by Jesús Gil Manzano, receiving a yellow and later a red card; the incident sparked debate, with cameras catching the German gesturing in a restricted area during a celebration for Araujo’s second goal.

Flick’s career

Born in 1965 in Heidelberg, Flick is regarded as one of Europe’s top tacticians of the last decade. He began as a midfielder with Bayern Munich, then moved into coaching with Hoffenheim in the mid-1990s. He served as Joachim Löw’s assistant with Germany from 2006 to 2014, contributing to the 2014 World Cup triumph with bold attacking ideas and high-pressing play.

Flick returned to club football in 2019 with Bayern Munich, delivering a sextuple in his first season. He led Bayern to multiple titles before taking charge of Germany in 2021, departing after the 2022 World Cup. In the summer of 2024 he embraced a new challenge with Barcelona, aiming to restore the club’s dominance on the biggest stages.

Worrying physical trends

La Liga data show a significant drop in Barça’s physical output under Flick this season compared with last year, according to Sport’s analysis of league metrics such as distance covered and high-speed runs (over 21 and 24 km/h).

In 2024-2025, Barça ranked among the most active teams with an average of 117.429 meters per match, above the league average of 115.572. After eight rounds this season, Barça sat 15th with 113.444 meters per game, roughly four kilometers less than last season and below the league mean of 115.091.

Gap with rivals

Direct comparisons reveal a clear gap: Atlético Madrid leads with over 120 kilometers per game, while clubs like Celta Vigo, Espanyol and Elche exceed 117,000 meters. Barça now sit among the less-energetic teams along with Athletic Bilbao, Valencia and Sevilla. Real Madrid sits at the bottom for the second consecutive year with 110.626 meters, though their vertical style compensates with rapid transitions in attack.

As the Clasico nears, Barça find themselves under fan pressure and facing concerning physical indicators, while Flick and his staff strive to demonstrate they can recapture technical and mental strength against their longtime rival, despite the obstacles ahead of the marquee clash.

Two light-hearted notes to close: if Barça’s defense can stay as tight as a submarine hatch, Mbappe might need a periscope to spot the goal. And if halftime brings a sprint to the locker room, the winner might be the player who can reach the coffee machine first—Mbappe’s speed is impressive, but caffeine often wins the race too.