Barcelona’s Hansi Flick Prepares for Supercopa Final Against Real Madrid

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has stated that his team’s primary focus is on Real Madrid, rather than the possible return of Kylian Mbappé in the Spanish Supercopa final this Sunday in Saudi Arabia.

Mbappé, who is 27 years old, missed Real Madrid’s semifinal victory over Atlético Madrid due to a knee injury but has since arrived in Jeddah and may participate in the upcoming match.

This season, the French striker has netted 29 goals across all competitions and has scored six times in five Clásicos. However, Flick emphasized that those matches have predominantly resulted in victories for Barcelona.

“How many Clásicos have we played in the last one-and-a-half years?” Flick questioned during a press conference when asked about the potential impact of Mbappé on his team’s high defensive line.

“[We have played] five. We lost one, OK? So it’s about that. I know he’s a fantastic player and performs well in space, but we are preparing to compete against one of the best teams in the world.

“We will adapt as we always do, but it is not about Mbappé; it’s about Madrid and our approach to the game. We remain committed to our philosophy and the style that defines Barça.”

When pressed about Mbappé’s impressive form this season, Flick acknowledged, “At the moment, Mbappé is the best striker in the world. He has scored numerous goals and is truly a world-class player.”

Mbappé scored when Madrid defeated Barça 2-1 in LaLiga earlier this season, which ended Barcelona’s four-match Clásico winning streak under Flick. This result had propelled Madrid five points clear of Barça at the top of the table; however, the dynamic has shifted, with the Catalan side now four points ahead in LaLiga after a nine-game winning streak.

“It was just one game,” Flick reflected on the defeat in October.

“Since then, we have regrouped and focused on what is essential. We are performing much better and more successfully. The team is very concentrated, and I am pleased with our current situation. We want to showcase our best level of play. I have a positive feeling about my team, and we must demonstrate our capabilities tomorrow.”

Sunday’s final marks the fourth consecutive Supercopa meeting between Barça and Madrid. This tournament has often been indicative of the outcomes in the latter half of the season, with the last four champions—Madrid (2022 and 2024) and Barça (2023 and 2025)—going on to win LaLiga as well.

Barcelona won last year’s final decisively, with a 5-2 scoreline. They enter this year’s match on a nine-game winning streak and have not conceded in their last five fixtures.

The only confirmed absentees are long-term injuries Gavi and Andreas Christensen, while Flick confirmed that Lamine Yamal is ready to start after being limited to a bench role during their 5-0 semifinal triumph over Athletic Club.