FC Barcelona will secure the title of Spanish champions for the 29th time – a great success for coach Hansi Flick too. But there were also disappointing moments this season.
The mood between the two big Spanish rivals couldn’t be more different. On the one hand, tensions at Real Madrid have now escalated in the dressing room dispute between Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni. Team cohesion in the capital had not been good for a long time. At the end of the season, the house blessing is now really wrong for the “Royal”.
Flick and Yamal ensure a good atmosphere
FC Barcelona is giving off a different mood these days. For example, the injured young star Lamine Yamal stopped by his teammates’ training at the beginning of the week. Yamal had taken out his best clothes from the wardrobe, which prompted coach Hansi Flick to give the fan favorite the nickname “businessman”. Flick had the laughs on his side.
Gossip on one side, heartwarming scenes on the other. This is how it goes in the 222nd Clásico between Barcelona and Real, which will be played this Sunday (9 p.m.) at the Camp Nou.
Lamine Yamal (l.) and Raphinha
It’s a special constellation. The Catalans’ lead over their eternal opponents is eleven points – and there are only four games left to play. With a win against Real of all teams, Barcelona can secure their 29th championship title, which will likely increase the opposition’s discontent even further.
Strong intermediate spurt in spring
So Barcelona will almost certainly defend the title, while Real Madrid will end a season without any real success. A season without being able to put a trophy in the closet – that is also a reason for the tension.
Barca secured this championship thanks primarily to a remarkable spurt in the spring. There are ten wins in a row and no other team could keep up. The last defeat in the championship to date was in February with the 1:2 against FC Girona. This January, the Supercopa also went into the showcase of FC Barcelona, who defeated Real Madrid 3-2 in a spectacular duel.
Championship title and Supercopa for Barcelona
All sunshine over the Catalan metropolis? Not quite. Because it won’t be enough for Hansi Flick and his team to achieve a double like last season. That was already clear when they lost to Atlético Madrid in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey at the beginning of March.
And in the Champions League the big success was not achieved again. In April it was over in the quarter-finals, and Flick’s team once again lost out to Atlético. Last year they had at least reached the semi-finals. Barcelona last won the European crown eleven years ago – a long time.
Barcelona coach Hans-Dieter Flick
Barcelona Transfer expenses again very low
At least one has to give credit to Hansi Flick for not being able to go on the big shopping spree since he took office two years ago due to financial bottlenecks. Barcelona spent 30 million euros on the transfer market before the season, most of it on goalkeeper Joan García. Even in previous years it was only slightly more. For comparison: Real Madrid pumped 167 million euros into the player market before this season.
Hansi Flick can pin the championship trophy on his lapel. Maybe there will be more in the coming years. The former German national coach is thinking about extending his contract, which expires in 2027, until 2028. After that he wants to end his career.
