Barcelona’s Thrilling Victory and Challenges Ahead

Celebrating his 50th La Liga game in charge, coach Flick’s Barcelona team showcased a formidable attacking display, securing a 4-2 victory against Celta Vigo. This win reduces the gap to league leaders Real Madrid to just three points. The match featured an impressive three goals from Lewandowski and an additional goal from Pedri for Barcelona, while Celta’s efforts included strikes from Iago Aspas and Jorgen Strand Larsen.

The victory was characterized by Barcelona’s offensive effectiveness, with eight shots on target out of 20 attempts, a significant contrast to Celta’s four shots on target from six attempts. Despite conceding two goals, Barcelona maintained control in the second half, demonstrating 63% possession and achieving an impressive 95% pass accuracy.

In his post-match remarks, Flick expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, noting, “Yes, of course, I’m happy. I think we made more mistakes in the first half than in the second. In the first half, we were very good with the ball, and in the second half, the team knew how to control the game.”

Flick emphasized the importance of pressure on the opposition, particularly with the international break approaching. “Pushing pressure on the opponent is good; we did it, and I’m happy. Winning before the international break is also very good. I feel happy. We had to look out for ourselves, and we applied the pressure well today.”

Following this result, Barcelona now stands at 28 points, just three behind Real Madrid’s 31, with both teams having played 12 matches.

The standout player of the match was veteran striker Lewandowski, who scored a hat-trick, raising his La Liga tally to seven goals. At 37 years old, the Polish international displayed his remarkable quality, and Flick expressed confidence in Lewandowski’s current form, steering clear of speculation about his future. “It’s too early to talk about Lewandowski’s next season. After his injury, I saw a different Robert—positive and confident. It’s very important for us that he scored three goals,” Flick stated, acknowledging the striker’s vital contribution to Barcelona’s title aspirations.

While celebrating the win, Flick did express concern over the pending absence of key midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who received a second yellow card, leading to a red card in stoppage time. This suspension means he will miss the upcoming league match against Athletic Club, a significant loss given his important role in the team. “I think De Jong controlled the game and is very important for us. He’s playing at an incredible level. It’s not good that he’ll miss the next game, but we’ll have to manage it. I hope to have Pedri, Raphinha, and Joan [Garcia] available when we return from the break.”

De Jong’s ability to control possession and dictate game tempo is crucial for Barcelona, making his suspension particularly challenging as the team aims to sustain pressure on the league leaders.

Flick concluded his remarks by highlighting the positive atmosphere within the squad, expressing hope for the health of players returning from international duty. “Everyone in the dressing room is satisfied and proud of the second half. I hope all the players return healthy after joining their national teams.”

He conveyed his belief in the team’s progression, both in La Liga and the Champions League, stating, “We’re on the right track. Not everything is perfect, but we’re moving in the right direction.” Flick’s cautious optimism reflects the progress made while acknowledging areas that still require improvement, as he refrained from delving into tactical discussions, remarking, “There’s too much noise.”

Post-international break, Barcelona is set to face a challenging home match against Athletic Club, currently positioned seventh in La Liga. The absence of De Jong will test the depth of Barcelona’s midfield, particularly as Flick hopes for the return of key players from injury. The match will be crucial for Barcelona to maintain their momentum and continue to apply pressure on Real Madrid at the top of the table.