Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has urged his players to maintain full concentration in their crucial La Liga clash against Atletico Madrid on Sunday, warning against the costly lapses that have plagued them in previous meetings this season.
Barcelona currently sit at the top of the table with a slender one-point lead over third-placed Atletico, setting up a high-stakes encounter at the Metropolitano Stadium.
In their previous league meeting in December, Barcelona had taken the lead, only for Rodrigo De Paul to equalise before Alexander Sorloth’s dramatic 96th-minute winner sealed a comeback for Atletico.
A similar collapse occurred in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg, where Barcelona conceded twice in the opening six minutes and then allowed two late goals, including another stoppage-time strike from Sorloth, resulting in a chaotic 4-4 draw.
Reflecting on those performances, Flick stressed the importance of concentration throughout the entire match.
“I think we played two great matches, but of course, we have to be focused from the beginning to the end,” Flick told reporters on Saturday.
“In the first match, we lost focus towards the end, and in the second match, we made mistakes both at the start and in the closing minutes. We have to take care of that.
“When you make mistakes, Atletico can punish you, and we must be prepared to prevent that from happening.”
Atletico Madrid come into this match following a heartbreaking Champions League elimination against Real Madrid on Wednesday, losing on penalties.
One of the key talking points was Julian Alvarez’s disallowed penalty, where the former Manchester City striker appeared to strike the ball twice after slipping.
Despite Atletico playing 120 minutes in midweek, Flick dismissed any notions that fatigue would be an issue for Diego Simeone’s side.
Meanwhile, Barcelona progressed to the quarterfinals of the Champions League after defeating Benfica, boosting their confidence ahead of this crucial domestic encounter.
Flick also spoke about his squad depth, particularly highlighting young talents like Gavi and Alejandro Balde, who were left out of Spain’s Nations League squad for the upcoming international break.
“(Gavi) is coming back from a major injury, and he’s just 20 years old. At the moment, he is not the first choice, but he is doing great,” Flick said.
“He will play many, many years for this amazing club and become one of the superstars. He has an incredible attitude and focus. For the 2026 World Cup, I am 100 per cent sure he will be there.”
Flick also praised Balde, calling him “one of the best” left-backs in the world, and lauded veteran centre-back Inigo Martinez, who has earned a call-up to Spain’s national team.
As the title race intensifies, Barcelona will be hoping to avoid the mistakes of the past and secure a crucial win against Atletico Madrid, with Flick’s warning about focus ringing loud and clear.
