Hansi Flick says Barcelona are ready for Sunday’s El Clásico against Real Madrid, but the coach also made clear that this is more than just another league match. With Barcelona coming off Tuesday’s defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, Flick believes the meeting at Spotify Camp Nou offers a chance to show progress as much as to collect points.
Barcelona host Real Madrid on Sunday at 9pm CET, and Flick’s message was one of confidence rather than caution. He said the players have recovered and are ready for the game, while also stressing that this is one of the biggest fixtures in football and not simply a contest for three points.
Flick: Barcelona must keep growing
Flick was blunt about the size of the challenge. He described Real Madrid as one of the best teams in the world, praised their coach and highlighted their quality in the final third. His view was clear: Barcelona will need to be at their best to cope with a side that has been strong in recent games.
“Real Madrid are one of the best teams in the world. They're a great club with great players and a great coach. They have enormous quality, especially in the final third, and they've done well in their recent games. We'll need to be ready,” he said.
That respect extended to the touchline battle as well. Flick said he holds “great respect” for the Real Madrid coach, adding that his opposite number has managed great teams over many years and proved his quality time and again.
For Flick, though, the bigger point is Barcelona’s own development. He said the team had analysed the defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, identified areas that were good and others that need improvement, and now have a chance to keep growing. “Tomorrow is a great opportunity to do that and show how we want to play,” he said.
Barcelona ready, but Olmo will miss out
The positive news for Barcelona is that Flick believes the squad has recovered well enough for the occasion. “The players have recovered and they're ready for this game,” he said, which points to a team that should be physically prepared for the scale of the occasion.
There is still a significant absence, though. Dani Olmo will miss the match after the injury issue that followed Tuesday’s game against Paris Saint-Germain. Flick said Olmo had been in a really good place, fit and at 100%, but admitted the club must accept the setback.
“Olmo was in a really good place. He was fit and at 100%. He's been unlucky, but we have to accept it. We'll miss him,” Flick said. He also added that Barcelona do not want to take any risks with him.
That leaves Barcelona without one of the players who has added something extra in the opening games. Flick was positive about what Olmo offers, but also realistic about the need for patience and continued work.
The wider message from the Barcelona coach was simple: the club know what this match means, they know who they are facing, and they know the standard required. Flick called it “the best this sport has to offer” and insisted everyone involved understands how Barcelona want to play. With Real Madrid arriving for a fixture that always carries extra weight, Sunday’s Clásico now becomes both a test of quality and a measure of how far Barcelona have already come.
