Final XI Dilemmas: Flick’s Three-Question Puzzle Before the Spanish Super Cup Clasico
9 January 2026
Three Key Decisions Flick Must Make Before the Spanish Super Cup Final
Hansi Flick, Barcelona's coach, faces a tactical puzzle ahead of the Clasico in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday evening.
The teams meet at the Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in a match broadcast exclusively on the Eight app.
Three decisions stand out for Flick: first, who leads the attack—Robert Lewandowski or Ferran Torres; second, who starts in central midfield—Frenkie de Jong or Gerard Martin, with Eric Garcia potentially deployed in midfield; and third, how to balance the midfield, possibly by pairing De Jong with Martin while Garcia anchors the middle.
Barcelona advanced with a commanding 5-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday, while Real Madrid progressed with a hard-fought 2-1 derby win over Atletico Madrid on Thursday.
The final promises a tactical showdown between two heavyweights in a neutral setting, with fans tuning in via the Eight app to catch every moment.
Punchline time: Flick's XI decisions are sharper than a sniper's scope—one miscue and the whole plan shifts like a bad Wi‑Fi signal. Punchline two: If football were a diary, Flick's pages would be full of checkmarks and cliffhangers, with the trophy as the final punchline.
