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Barcelona manager Hansi Flick will face his first-ever El Clasico this weekend when Real Madrid host his team at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Barça go into the game high on confidence and morale after their thumping 4-1 victory over Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League earlier this week.
However, manager Hansi Flick is eager to address one issue that he believes could expose his side to Real Madrid’s strength.
Flick concerned Real Madrid could exploit high-line
Indeed, according to SPORT, the Barcelona manager is looking to address the team’s defensive vulnerabilities before the crucial match at the Santiago Bernabeu, despite the team’s impressive victory against Bayern Munich.
Since taking charge at Camp Nou, Flick has implemented his trademark high-pressing style, which requires the defensive line to push up significantly.
While this approach has generally proved successful in La Liga, the Bayern match served as a warning sign of its potential risks against elite opposition.
As per the report, Flick was noticeably concerned about the spaces left behind the full-backs – Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde, during the Champions League match.
There is a sense of worry that these defensive frailties could prove particularly problematic against Real Madrid’s pacey attackers.
Flick’s animated touchline presence during the Bayern match highlighted his concerns, particularly when the German side easily penetrated Barcelona’s defence, resulting in Harry Kane having a goal disallowed before scoring a legitimate one.
The team’s pressing was not effective enough, allowing Bayern to play out from the back with ease and exploit the space behind both full-backs. This vulnerability could prove particularly challenging against the threat of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr.
With Rodrygo’s absence, Flick is particularly concerned about the fluid movement of Real Madrid’s front two, with Mbappe and Vinicius potentially switching flanks at will.
The defensive system needs to be more robust than it was against Bayern, who created numerous chances despite their poor finishing.
The outcome of this tactical battle could prove decisive in what could be a potential title-defining clash between Barcelona and Real Madrid.
BU