Flick's Formula Sparks Barca Revival Ahead of El Clasico with Madrid's Revenge
26 October 2025
Flick's impact and Barca's revival
German coach Hans Flick has proven exceptionally capable in his first season with Barcelona, breaking through the stagnation that followed two and a half years of upheaval under the young coach Xavi Hernandez.
Xavi led Barca to the league title and the Spanish Super Cup in 2023, but departed after a trophyless season amid public tensions with president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco. He announced a contract extension to 2026, and his successor Flick signed on for the same term.
Flick's path to the Catalan throne included peaks at Bayern Munich, lifting the Champions League in 2020, followed by a disastrous late chapter that saw him dismissed after Germany’s early World Cup exit in 2022. Barcelona and Flick both sought to prove themselves: a club beset by financial challenges pledging to blood young academy graduates, while Flick tried to translate his European pedigree into La Liga success.
Barca faces a tough balancing act, combining financial strain with a squad lean on depth, leaning on rising talents from La Masia to fuel a rebuild while chasing silverware in a fiercely competitive league.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid under Alonso prepares for a Clasico from the top of the table momentum, with a squad returning from injuries and a managerial switch that has added urgency to the clash.
Barca and Madrid are in a historic duel, with Madrid dominating Europe in the last decade, including 15 European titles and a powerful financial edge. The club’s success and a wave of talented attackers help to justify the high expectations around Flick’s work at Barca.
Stakes and injuries
Barça faces several injuries as the squad tries to cope with a long season: goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen remains out, youngster Garcia has joined the casualty list, and star winger Gavi has also missed time. Dani Olmo and defender Andreas Christensen are sidelined, while the absences of Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski loom large in attack.
The headlines emphasize that the pair of Raphinha and Lewandowski scored 8 of Barca’s 16 goals against Madrid last season, underlining how pivotal their absence could be against a Madrid side that still prays for a strong defensive showing from Militao, Alaba, and others.
Madrid’s readiness
Madrid enjoy a clearer path to the lineup with fewer injuries, as coach Xabi Alonso recovers key players and names a strong starting XI. They will rely on their usual structure and a mix of youth alongside veterans to face Barca.
Squad snapshots for the Clasico
Barcelona’s 22-man squad includes goalkeepers: Vec crash, Notable defenders include Araujo, Koundou, Garcia and Eric Garcia; midfielders include Pedri, De Jong, Busquets, and others; forwards feature Ferran Torres and Ferran with new signings integrated as needed. Real Madrid lists 24 players comprising goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and attackers such as Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, and others, with a plan to control the midfield through tactical pressing and quick transitions.
Madrid leads La Liga on 24 points, while Barca sit second with 22, setting the stage for a high-stakes encounter that could tilt the title race or simply reaffirm the rivalry's staying power.
Punchline time
Humor note: If football were a chess game, Flick just promoted himself to grandmaster; if it were hide-and-seek, Alonso would still be counting and Barca would still be finding the net. And if you thought this Clasico would be boring, don’t worry—the ball will still refuse to stay in one place long enough for you to finish your popcorn.
