Hansi Flick has had an impressive start at Barcelona, but can they break Real Madrid’s 42-game unbeaten streak in La Liga during El Clásico this weekend?
Hansi Flick’s first experience of El Clásico is fast approaching, and as always, this debut is framed as a moment of truth. Whether welcomed or dreaded, defining storylines await, ready to be dissected by the Spanish media and discussed into the night, whatever unfolds at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Are Barcelona truly the best team in Spain? Or are they merely a noble contender, with their weaknesses exposed by Real Madrid’s strength? Even if the answer isn’t crystal clear, opinions will inevitably be divided; that’s simply the nature of this legendary fixture.
Beyond the intense Clásico buzz about to fill the airwaves, one thing is certain—Flick’s Barcelona are a team worthy of serious attention.
Fresh from a 4-1 victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League, the Catalans enter this clash atop La Liga, having amassed 27 out of a possible 30 points this season. Only three times in their history have they started stronger at this stage in a top-flight season, and each of those instances was during the Lionel Messi era.
So, what is it that Barcelona do so effectively? And how might that play out when they face their electrified, eternal rival?
Barcelona’s Attack Has Flourished Under Flick’s Guidance
Flick has transformed Barcelona into an attacking powerhouse, tallying an impressive 33 goals in their first 10 league matches. To put this in perspective, the last team to reach such a number in their first 10 La Liga games was Real Madrid in 2014-15, while the last Barcelona team to do so dates back to Pep Guardiola’s treble-winning debut season in 2008-09.
With Dani Olmo as Barcelona’s only significant summer signing—and having started just two of these 10 games—it raises the question: how has Flick managed to accelerate Barcelona’s attack so quickly?
The answer isn’t straightforward. Factors like Lamine Yamal’s rapid rise to stardom and Pedri’s return to regular play provide important context. Yet, a broader view reveals several distinct Flick-driven characteristics shaping this team’s remarkable offensive form.
While many initially questioned Flick’s suitability at Barcelona—particularly his use of a ‘4-2-3-1’, his physical style, and how well it would align with the club’s philosophy—the reality has been quite different. For one, the formation isn’t truly a 4-2-3-1. Instead, Barcelona start in a clear 4-3-3 shape when in possession, adjusting fluidly based on player roles: Pedri’s versatility allows him to occupy varying heights in midfield, Raphinha operates as a ‘false winger’ with extensive mobility, and Jules Koundé alternates between a third center-back and an advanced full-back.
This Barcelona team is simply a whirlwind of movement and dynamism. The ball circulates quickly, they capitalize on open spaces, attacking players are in constant motion, and they dominate opponents by packing the opposition half with players. It’s an intensity that seems to have appeared almost overnight.
“We work much harder than before. The new fitness coaches that have come in are really good for us. We work hard and you notice it in the games. The team doesn’t dip after the 70th or 80th minute, it maintains the same fitness levels.” Pedri, September 2024 (Mundo Deportivo interview)
For Barcelona purists, perhaps the best news so far is that, despite a more direct playing style, the team has rarely appeared rushed or overly hasty with the ball. Flick has successfully instilled a new, more assertive attacking intent without sacrificing the possession quality that has long defined the club.
Compared to last season under Xavi, this team has only slightly reduced its average number of passes per sequence while significantly increasing the pace of ball progression. According to Opta’s direct speed metric—which measures how quickly a team advances the ball upfield in open play (in meters per second)—Barcelona has quickened to 1.81, surpassing eight teams in this aspect, after previously outpacing only Girona (1.67) last season.
Barcelona’s defensive unit has been the logical foundation for this shift. Center-back duo Iñigo Martínez and Pau Cubarsí have excelled across the board, especially in initiating and maintaining the team’s playing style. Martínez tops the league in successful switches of play (17), while Cubarsí combines precision with forward progression, completing 94% of his passes despite his aggressive style.
Together, they lead La Liga in completed passes, forming a distribution-focused axis through which Barcelona can initiate play and circulate the ball with purpose.
Much of Barcelona’s attacking play originates with these two defenders. Under Flick’s guidance, the team excels at occupying central spaces and creating intricate interplay between attackers there. Martínez and, especially, Cubarsí have been effective at delivering precise passes through the middle to ignite these central attacks, which often spell trouble for the opposition.
However, Barcelona’s offense is far from one-dimensional. Their strong central presence has actually enhanced their attacking variety. Through quick, close combinations, Barça disrupts the opponent’s shape, opening gaps between the lines and nudging defenders out of position. Once they break through, it doesn’t matter if the attack continues centrally or shifts wide—the aim is to capitalize on the spaces left behind as the opponent scrambles to adjust.
And when the opponent crowds the center? No problem, there’s always the option to play it out to Yamal.
One of the most evident impacts of Flick’s attacking strategy has been a surge in the último pase, or final pass. Barcelona lead Europe’s top five leagues in successful through balls this season, with 21, most of which originate from central areas.
The team clusters in the center, swiftly moving the ball between players before threading that decisive pass to break down the opponent’s disorganized defense and midfield lines. If possession is lost, Barça quickly regroup, pressing aggressively to prevent any counter-attacking opportunities for their opponents.
It’s the essence of technical football, executed with genuine physicality.
Barcelona’s Intense Pressure: A Key to Their Success
A defining characteristic of Flick’s squad that firmly aligns with ‘Barça DNA’ is their behavior when out of possession. This team presses from the front, with subsequent lines following suit, and their pressing approach remains consistent regardless of the scoreline. When Barcelona chooses to press for parts of the game rather than throughout, their manager makes his expectations clear.
Despite the current pressing and counter-pressing trends in football, Barcelona hasn’t frequently converted these efforts into goals this season. While their aim is to win the ball back and create scoring opportunities quickly, they have only netted twice directly following a high turnover in La Liga, representing a mere 6% of their total goals. This indicates that their pressing isn’t significantly enhancing their goal-scoring, at least for now.
However, the more consistent outcome of their pressing is the ability to maintain pressure and keep opponents pinned in their own half. This has been the most beneficial aspect of their pressing strategy, which relies on quickly regaining possession after losing it through brief, intense bursts of activity—often in central areas where Barcelona has numerous players ready to respond when their plays are disrupted.
This season, Barcelona’s opponents have averaged just 2.8 sequences of 10 or more passes per game in La Liga, a notable decrease from last season’s average of 5.0. By aggressively pursuing quick ball recoveries, Flick’s team creates a “washing machine effect,” subjecting opponents to relentless attacks without allowing them the chance to regain possession.
This pattern has been evident repeatedly in La Liga, as Barcelona accepts that there will be moments when they need to scramble back defensively in exchange for periods of sustained dominance.
The most notable risk associated with this strategy is Barcelona’s newly adopted ultra-high defensive line, which complements their counter-pressing efforts. This subplot will be particularly relevant as they prepare to face Real Madrid this Saturday.
Under Flick, Barcelona has caught their opponents offside 65 times in the first 10 league matches—significantly higher than any other team in Europe’s top five leagues this season. Averaging 6.5 offside calls per game, this is more than double their average from last season in La Liga, which stood at 3.1.
While this high number will likely decrease as the season progresses, it reflects Barcelona’s strong conviction in their approach. Their ability to consistently play opponents offside signals that they are aware of the risks involved and the potential for exploitation, yet they firmly believe it’s the right tactic.
However, maintaining a high defensive line against Real Madrid poses unique challenges. Few teams in world football can exploit such a strategy better than one featuring the lightning speed of Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Rodrygo, alongside the industrious Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde, who can also contribute to the attack.
In many respects, the first Clásico of the 2024-25 season presents a paradox: both teams are likely to achieve their desired style of play. Carlo Ancelotti will allow Barcelona to control possession for significant stretches of the match in exchange for opportunities to counterattack, while Flick’s side will have the chance to dominate territorially, provided they execute their game plan effectively.
Although it might seem reckless to adopt a high defensive line at the Bernabéu, Flick may view it as a crucial strategy for securing a positive result. While Barcelona’s defenders may struggle in foot races against Real Madrid’s forwards, their collective pressing could disrupt the connections leading to those attackers.
Should they hold back or press forward? The German coach doesn’t appear inclined to take half-measures, and Real Madrid’s 42-game unbeaten streak in La Liga certainly does not favor the more cautious defensive approaches that have been employed against them.
Raphinha Embodies Flick’s Ambitious New Approach
When it comes to pressing, Raphinha deserves special recognition. In just a few months, he has transformed from a player many fans were willing to part with into a genuine cult hero.
Now temporarily donning the captain’s armband, Raphinha not only scores and assists but also exemplifies relentless effort in a Barcelona team intent on overwhelming opponents on all fronts. “I have never had a player like Raphinha in any of my teams,” Flick remarked after their recent midweek victory over Bayern in Europe, where Raphinha scored an impressive hat-trick.
Freed from his previous right-wing role, where expectations revolved around him as a traditional Brazilian winger known for dribbling and carrying the ball—similar to Vinícius Júnior on the opposite flank—Flick’s arrival has allowed Raphinha’s diverse skill set to flourish.
The more dynamic the team’s play becomes, the more it benefits Raphinha. He is not a winger who simply receives the ball, clears space, and waits to create; rather, he is an event creator who impacts the game in various ways, both physically and technically. Now positioned as a ‘winger’ in name, he has the freedom to drift inside and vary his positioning, making it challenging for opponents to contain him.
While he has also logged considerable minutes in a more central role this season, the 27-year-old is typically part of a ‘front three’ that has been unmatched in performance across Europe this season.
Among the nine players directly involved in 10 or more goals across Europe’s top five leagues this term, Raphinha, along with Robert Lewandowski and Yamal, accounts for a third. Notably, the last time three teammates reached double figures in goals and assists this early in a La Liga season was back in 2013-14, when Messi, Neymar, and Alexis Sánchez achieved the same feat.
It may be challenging for Raphinha to sustain his current output of goals and assists throughout the season, but Flick won’t be overly concerned when that rate starts to decline. The contributions the Brazilian makes to his team go beyond direct goal involvement; he energizes a dynamic attack that relies heavily on his activity.
While he is not solely responsible for creating and building attacks, Raphinha’s greatest asset to this Barcelona side has likely been his impact without the ball. His mobility and movement create significant problems for opposing defenses, as he constantly makes incisive runs that compel defenders to react.
In the first 10 games of La Liga this season, Raphinha has received more progressive passes than any other winger or attacking midfielder, totaling 69. He has also received the highest number of through balls (7) among all players in these positions, matching Lewandowski’s overall tally.
Against a Real Madrid team that remains unbeaten in 42 La Liga matches, breaking through their defensive line is no easy task. Even when their defensive structure is shaky, dominant defenders like Antonio Rüdiger and Éder Militão effectively handle individual duels and manage space in front of them.
In this scenario, Raphinha’s off-the-ball movements and clever runs behind the defense could provide Barcelona with one of their best opportunities to exploit any weaknesses.
A Fit Pedri’s Timely Return Boosts Barcelona
The last time Pedri started a Clásico in La Liga was on October 16, 2022—over two years ago. His absence from this fixture has been strongly felt by both Barcelona supporters and neutrals alike, as the team tends to feel less complete without him, diminishing the stylistic clash we usually witness when these two giants meet.
Pedri’s presence in this match against Real Madrid is particularly crucial. As Barcelona faces an opponent known for its speed on the counterattack, and with Ancelotti likely to capitalize on that strength, precision and smart ball usage will be essential for Barça.
This requires understanding when to quicken the tempo and when to slow it down, especially since Flick’s team naturally leans toward aggressive, opportunistic play. Pedri can significantly contribute to this dynamic, but he also excels in recognizing when it’s time to take a step back.
For Barcelona to strike the perfect balance between sharp, direct attacks and the composure needed to manage the game effectively, the 21-year-old is an indispensable element of the strategy.
Barcelona’s success in El Clásico often follows a consistent pattern. While many teams across Europe adjust their style of play when facing formidable opponents, especially in away matches, Barça’s victories in this fixture are closely linked to their football philosophy.
You have to go back to May 2008 to find the last instance when Real Madrid had more possession than Barcelona in a league Clásico, with the two sides meeting 32 times in the top division since then. This doesn’t imply that Barcelona always controls the ball in these encounters, nor can they dictate play against a team as skilled as Real Madrid, but it highlights a clear trend among the Catalans. Winning the Clásico—particularly at the Bernabéu—rarely happens through a conservative approach or by relinquishing control.
Even when Flick’s side aims to be aggressive in their pursuit of goals, they must balance that aggression with effective ball possession. This necessity is even more pronounced this year, considering that one of Real Madrid’s significant challenges during the Mbappé era has been their defensive organization and their inability to apply effective pressure on the ball. For Barcelona to seize control, they must make Madrid work hard and test their defensive cohesion without possession.
While many aspects of Barcelona have evolved under Flick, some elements remain unchanged. Gerard Piqué once remarked that the whistles from the Santiago Bernabéu sounded like a “symphony” to him, and the most effective way to achieve that response has always been to take the ball away from Real Madrid and force them to chase.
As Flick prepares for his first Clásico, with Barcelona positioned as a team with a potent strike, they will rely on Pedri’s composure to navigate the match and create scoring opportunities. Like all previous Barça managers who have faced this challenge, it’s not just about the outcome but also about the style and approach that will earn respect when leaving the Bernabéu.
When is the El Classico?
The El Classico is on Sunday midnight, October 27, with the match set to kick off at 12:30 AM IST.
