When the Coach Is Out: Barca's Clasico Without Flick
18 October 2025
Overview
German coach Hans Flick will miss Barcelona's highly anticipated Clasico against Real Madrid in La Liga. Barca travel to Madrid on October 26, taking on Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu as part of the league's tenth round.
Flick was sent off in the Girona match on Sunday at the Luis Campanis Olympic Stadium, triggering his touchline ban. In the 90+1 minute, referee Jesus Gil showed the red card for protesting decisions.
Barcelona snatched a dramatic 2-1 victory after a stoppage-time header from Ronald Araújo in the 90+3 minute, sealing the win for the home side.
Barça temporarily lead La Liga with 22 points, one point ahead of Real Madrid, who play Getafe the following day.
Live-action moments
The match began with a swift tempo, and both sides paused briefly during the opening moments in a show of solidarity with regional concerns, before Montjuïc erupted as the game kicked off in earnest.
Barcelona dominated early play, with Lamine Yamal operating on the right and Marcus Rashford in a more central role, while Girona sat back to absorb pressure and strike on the counter.
In the 3rd minute, Rashford tested the keeper with a free-kick, saved by Gazaniga, followed by a sharp effort from Yamal in the 4th minute that curled narrowly wide after a clever dribble.
Barcelona kept pressing, but Girona remained sturdy at the back as the first half wore on, with chances at both ends and a lively, open contest.
In the 13th minute, Barcelona took the lead through Pedri after a nice exchange with Yamal inside the box; the young star’s left-footed shot hit the post and went in, giving the hosts a deserved advantage amid raucous celebrations.
Barça did not relent, continuing to hunt a second goal as Rashford and Yamal pressed, while Girona’s defense stood firm for a time.
At the 20th minute, Axel Witsel equalized with a back-heel finish after a header from Arnau Martinez, silencing Montjuïc and restoring parity.
After the break, Flick made attacking changes, with Firmino Lopez entering the fray and hitting the post within two minutes of his introduction in the 51st minute.
Gazaniga remained a constant threat, pulling off several key saves as the hosts pushed for a winner; a late call for a Barcelona penalty in the 60th minute was denied by the referee for a perceived infringement on Eric Garcia.
The drama intensified as Rashford again tested the Girona defense in the 64th and 65th minutes, with the Englishman denied by the goalkeeper and woodwork alike.
67th minute saw a dangerous Girona counter, but Chizni (Gianluigi Gazaniga’s save) kept the scoreline level. Barcelona protested for a late spot-kick in the 70th minute, but the referee waved play on amid heated exchanges from Flick and his staff.
Then, in the 93rd minute, Frenkie de Jong delivered a precise cross into the box for Araújo to rise and head home, sending the Montjuïc crowd into a frenzy and clinching the victory for Barcelona.
Moments after the final whistle, Flick was sent off again for his post-match conduct, leaving Barcelona to close out the game without their coach on the bench.
