Flick urges Barcelona to stay focused ahead of Atletico showdown

Hansi Flick has warned his Barcelona squad to remain fully focused when they face Atletico Madrid on Sunday in La Liga, following costly lapses in their two previous encounters this season.

Barcelona, who lead the table by a single point, visit third-placed Atletico in a crucial title clash at the Metropolitano Stadium.

In December’s league meeting, Barcelona surrendered a lead as Rodrigo De Paul equalized before Alexander Sorloth struck a dramatic 96th-minute winner. Their Copa del Rey semi-final first leg was equally chaotic, with Barcelona conceding twice in the opening six minutes and again late on, including another stoppage-time goal from Sorloth in a 4-4 draw.

“I think we have had really two great matches, and of course, we have to be focused from beginning to the end,” Flick said on Saturday. “In the first match, at the end, we were not as focused as we can be, and the second match was the same at the beginning and at the end. We have to take care of that.”

Atletico, meanwhile, suffered Champions League heartbreak on Wednesday, losing to Real Madrid on penalties. Julian Alvarez’s spot-kick was controversially disallowed after he appeared to make contact with the ball twice while slipping.

“It was an unlucky situation, I feel for him, he’s one of the best strikers,” Flick said.

The Barcelona coach also praised Alejandro Balde and Gavi, backing the latter to become “one of the superstars” of the club and a key player for Spain at the 2026 World Cup.

(Source: AFP)