Barcelona FC news

Ready for the derby – FC Barcelona
One more day to go before it’s derby day at Spotify Camp Nou. Hansi Flick gathered his troops for one last time at the Ciutat Esportiva this Friday morning with Champions League thoughts put on hold for the moment as they prepare for the Saturday fixture at home to RCD Espanyol.

When and where to watch FC Barcelona v Espanyol – FC Barcelona
Our guide to the worldwide kick-off times and channels for the LaLiga derby at the Spotify Camp Nou.

Meeting between Flick and Manolo – FC Barcelona
Hansi Flick and Manolo González shared a friendly moment on the Tito Vilanova training field. Smiles all round as they posed for the media and held up the shirts of their respective sides ahead of the latest La Liga showdown.

Recent city derbies at Spotify Camp Nou – FC Barcelona
The last time Barça faced RCD Espanyol at their home ground was on 31 December 2022, Week 15 of the league season.

Milan, a new suitor for Lewandowski – Mundo Deportivo
Reports indicate that there have been contacts between representatives of the Barcelona striker and the Milanese club to gauge each other’s intentions. This interest would add to that of Juventus in Italy, Chicago Fire in the United States, and several Saudi clubs.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

VAR is in the spotlight once again in the wake of Barcelona’s first leg Champions League defeat to Atletico in their quarter-final clash at Camp Nou.

Hansi Flick was left furious afterwards as Marc Pubill somehow escaped conceding a penalty and receiving a second yellow card for a handball.

He told Movistar: “I don’t know why VAR hasn’t been used. The referee … I think he’s brilliant. We all make mistakes, but what’s the point of VAR?

“I just can’t understand it. It should have been a penalty, a second yellow and a red card as he already had a booking. This is exactly what shouldn’t happen.”

Barcelona have since submitted a formal complaint to UEFA in protest at the “grave lack of intervention by VAR” after the incident which they feel was a “major error.”

So today’s Barca Blaugranes Question of the Day is:

How do you feel about VAR? Is it time to make changes, scrap it altogether or something else entirely?

Now it’s over to you! Feel free to share your thoughts, predictions, upsets, and opinions and answers in the comments section below!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona have issued a statement to confirm they have submitted a formal complaint about the refereeing during Wednesday’s Champions League defeat to Atletico.

The Catalans have been left furious by the decision not to send off Marc Pubill and award Barcelona a penalty for a clear handball.

Here’s the statement:

“FC Barcelona inform that the Club legal services have submitted a complaint to UEFA today regarding the events in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Atlético Madrid. The Club considers that the refereeing did not adhere to the current law, directly influencing how the game progressed and the result.

“The complaint centres around a specific action. In the 54th minute of the match, after play had been restarted correctly, an opponent player picked up the ball in their area without being shown the corresponding penalty. FC Barcelona understands that this decision, along with a grave lack of intervention by VAR, represents a major error. Accordingly, the Club has requested an investigation be opened, access to refereeing communications, and where applicable, official acknowledgment of the errors and the adoption of the relevant measures.

“Along these same lines, FC Barcelona consider that this is not the first time in recent editions of the UEFA Champions League that unfathomable refereeing decisions have had a detrimental effect on the team, creating a clear double standard and preventing competing against other clubs on a level playing field.”

Acting president Rafa Yuste had previously explained why the club were taking such action.

“With the technical and electronic resources we have in society, such as VAR, I don’t understand why a clear penalty, in my opinion, wasn’t awarded against Atlético Madrid. I say this with all due respect to everyone. Whether intentional or not, the play is crystal clear,” he told reporters.

“I don’t want to go into detail about the refereeing. There’s a very important second leg. We have to focus on the fact that a comeback is very possible, and we believe it is. Now we have a very important match against Espanyol, and as president, I don’t want anything to disrupt the concentration that the club, players, and staff need for this match.”

“We at the club are considering issuing a statement. And we can’t forget—sometimes memory is very short—that something similar happened to us in the Cup at Atlético’s stadium. We have to denounce it because otherwise there won’t be any improvement. Everyone makes mistakes, but it’s happening too often and we can’t let it go.”

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Lamine Yamal has sent out a defiant message in the wake of Barcelona’s defeat to Atletico in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.

Barcelona are 2-0 down to Diego Simeone’s side ahead of the return fixture in the Spanish capital next week, but Yamal isn’t giving up hope yet.

“This isn’t over, culers We’ll give everything in the second leg. All together, always,” he posted on Instagram.

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Yamal caused Atletico problems on Wednesday night and drew plenty of praise from manager Hansi Flick after the game for his performance.

“Of course, he’s disappointed – everyone was disappointed,” Flick said. “But Lamine played a fantastic game, from the beginning to the end, in the defence and in the offence.

“He had one-v-one situations, he had three, four, five players around him. It’s unbelievable.””I said it yesterday, he’s 18 years old, and, for me, he’s doing a fantastic job. We have to support him. Not make so much noise about things. 

“He’s 18 years old, come on! For your country [Spain], he will be one of the best players ever.  The referees, they have to protect him. This is why everyone goes to the stadium, everyone wants to see football, from these players. [Kylian] Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Lamine, Pedri.”

Barcelona will need Yamal at his best again next week if they are to prevail, but he’ll also need help from his team-mates – particularly with Raphinha still out injured.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona’s Champions League hopes suffered a blow on Wednesday as Hansi Flick’s side lost 2-0 to Atletico in the first leg of their quarter-final tie 

The game between the two La Liga sides was once again full of controversy, with Pau Cubarsi seeing red and Koke somehow avoiding an early bath.

Barca were also furious after the game as they felt Marc Pubill should have been sent off and conceded a penalty for handball in the second half.

The Catalans now need to stage a memorable comeback if they are to make it through to the semi-finals.

So today’s Barca Blaugranes Question of the Day is:

How do you rate Barcelona’s chances of knocking out Atletico and what will be key to their comeback hopes?

Now it’s over to you! Feel free to share your thoughts, predictions, upsets, and opinions and answers in the comments section below!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick opted to take off Pedri at half-time of Wednesday’s Champions League tie with Atletico.

The move was something of a surprise, with Flick revealing afterwards why he hooked his midfield talisman.

“Pedri has some issues, nothing major, but we don’t want to take risks because we need him right now,” he said afterwards.

According to AS, Pedri was feeling discomfort in the back of his thigh and will now undergo tests. The current thinking is that he’s likely to sit out Barca’s next game against Espanyol.

The hope is that Pedri will be fit for the return leg against Atletico, while Frankie de Jong is also expected to be available after an injury layoff.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

WELCOME TO CAMP NOU!!! The Greatest Stadium on Earth hosts the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, with Barça looking for a second win in four days against the Colchoneros to take a solid result into next week’s second leg. This should be all kinds of fun, and you’re welcome to join us to follow and comment all the action. Vamos!

LINEUPS

To be announced.

MATCH INFO

Competition/Round: 2025-26 UEFA Champions League, Quarter-Finals, 1st Leg

Date/Time: Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 9pm CET/WAT (Barcelona), 8pm GMT (UK & Nigeria), 3pm ET, 12pm PT (USA), 12.30am IST (India, Thursday)

Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Referee: István Kovács (ROU)

VAR: Christian Dingert (GER)

HOW TO WATCH

On TV: TUDN (USA), TNT Sports 2 (UK), SONY TEN 2 (India), SuperSport (Nigeria), Movistar (Spain), others

Online: Paramount+ (USA), HBO Max (UK), Sony LIV (India), Movistar+ (Spain), others

Matchday Thread Rules

We don’t have a lot of rules here, but there are a few things to keep in mind when joining our matchday threads:

Even if the referee sucks or we lose the game, watch the swearing. It’s just unnecessary. Also, don’t discuss illegal streaming links. Those who do it will be warned, and those who post links will be instantly banned. Finally, be nice to each other. This is a Barcelona community and we don’t need to offend one another.

Have fun with the game! Forever and ever, no matter the competition, VISCA EL BARÇA!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona have some ambitious plans for the upcoming summer transfer window, and signing a high-level center-back is one of the club’s clear priorities.

The Catalans have been strongly linked with Alessandro Bastoni from Inter Milan, who appears very interested in moving to Camp Nou according to the latest reporting. But Barça have also been linked with Luka Vuskovic, the 19-year-old sensational who is one of the rising prospects in the Bundesliga.

Vuskovic has shined for Hamburg with his combination of power and pace, and he’s also shown a knack for scoring goals as well. Vuskovic is wanted by pretty much every big club and seems to be one of the best defensive prospects in Europe, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Barça join the race if they have a realistic shot of signing him.

So today’s Barca Blaugranes Question of the Day is:

Is Luka Vuskovic a better option for Barcelona than Alessandro Bastoni?

Now it’s over to you! Feel free to share your thoughts, predictions, upsets, and opinions and answers in the comments section below!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

For the vast majority of the time, hot takes are really bad. Sometimes, however, they can be fun and harmless, especially when it involves something you believe about your favorite team. Alternate universes, unpopular opions, all of that. Everyone has a hot take.

Here’s mine: had Neymar never left Barça in 2017, he would have won at least one Ballon d’Or, even as Messi’s teammate. Neymar was the missing piece in Ernesto Valverde’s teams, and he actually reached his peak as a footballer during his first three seasons at PSG. If he showed that level at Barça we would have won at least one more UCL and Neymar would be recognized as the best player in the world for a single season, something he craved so much at the time he left Barça.

So today’s Barca Blaugranes Question of the Day is:

What is your spiciest Barcelona hot take that you actually believe?

Now it’s over to you! Feel free to share your thoughts, predictions, upsets, and opinions and answers in the comments section below!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has sent out a strong warning to his players who are at risk of suspension ahead of the Champions League quarter-final tie against Atlético Madrid.

Four players — Lamine Yamal, Fermín López, Marc Casadó and Gerard Martín — will be suspended for the second leg if they pick up a yellow card at Camp Nou on Wednesday, and Flick has made it clear he won’t accept any silly business from those walking the tight rope.

“I won’t accept any arguments; we need to focus on the game. I don’t want them arguing, and I want them to stay focused, without arguing with the referee. They [Atlético] also have a lot of cautions. It’s the same situation for them.”

Yellow cards are wiped after the quarter-finals so those four players will no longer be at risk of suspension if they avoid a booking in the two legs against Atlético and Barça manage to advance.

As Flick mentioned Atlético are also facing plenty of possible suspensions, with eight players (Marcos Llorente, Giuliano Simeone, Marc Pubill, Matteo Ruggeri, Pablo Barrios, Thiago Almada, Robin Le Normand and Clément Lenglet), five of them key starters, just one yellow card away from a ban.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Hansi Flick is not afraid to show his public support for Lamine Yamal, and he did it once again at a press conference on Tuesday after the Barcelona teenager had an angry reaction following Barça’s win over Atlético Madrid at the weekend.

There has been a lot of noise about Yamal’s frustrations and several theories about the cause of his anger, but Flick explained that Lamine’s outburst was related to what happened in the game and made it clear he will always back Yamal, especially as he navigates life as an 18-year-old football superstar.

“What we have to understand is that Lamine is 18 years old and an incredible player. When you watch the game again, you see him doing amazing things. He’s only 18. He dribbled past five players and almost scored. He left frustrated. He’s emotional, and that’s a good thing. I’m always going to support him.

“We have to be careful. Not everything he does is to make a fuss. He’s a fantastic player, and we have to remember that he’s only 18. I told him he can do it, that I’m always going to protect him. He’s a great player, maybe the best in the future.”

Lamine Yamal is an easy target for people on social media so it was not a surprise to see such a strong reaction to what was essentially a non-story. The game was physical and tense, Yamal is incredibly competitive, and he was frustrated at the end of the match.

It happens. We all move on. No big deal.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Pablo Torre still hasn’t forgotten Barcelona. The Mallorca midfielder, who left Barça last summer, has had a difficult season at his new club where he struggled for regular playing time. But he’s starting to find his form after a change of coaches, with Martín Demichelis trusting Torre and giving him more minutes in recent weeks.

Mallorca are coming off a huge win over Real Madrid which gave them a major boost in their fight against relegation while also helping Barça take full control in the title race, and Torre spoke to Catalan media after the game to talk about his desire to return to Camp Nou one day and how much he misses his former teammates.

“What I experienced there was a dream. I arrived young, you see the teammates I had, and when I left I can say that many are friends; I still talk to them. The truth is I miss many of them a lot, but that’s life. I wish them all the best and hope to return in the future.”

Source: RAC1 via SPORT

Barça sold only 50% of Torre’s rights to Mallorca and have a €12 million buy option this summer and the next, so the door isn’t completely shut on Pablo’s dream. Having enough minutes in a crowded Barça midfield is the reason Torre left in the first place, but he might become undeniable if his form under Demichelis continues into next season and Barça take the opportunity to bring him back on the cheap.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona are currently getting ready for the Champions League quarter-finals and will play the first leg against Atlético Madrid on Wednesday, and questions about Hansi Flick’s best team remain ahead of a huge European clash.

The Catalans have had trouble finding a consistent scoring option up front all season given the struggles of Ferran Torres and the limited minutes played by a veteran Robert Lewandowski, forcing Flick to look for alternatives.

One of them was used in Saturday’s La Liga win over Atlético at the Metropolitano with Dani Olmo as a False Nine. This wasn’t the first time we saw Olmo perform that role, and one of Barça’s best performances in the Flick Era to date was a sensational 5-0 Copa del Rey win against Real Betis last season in which Olmo was unstoppable in that position.

Playing Olmo up front also allows for more numbers in midfield which can help control the game against a dangerous counter-attacking side like Atleti, so this is certainly an option worth considering.

So today’s Barca Blaugranes Question of the Day is:

Should Barcelona stick with ‘False 9’ Dani Olmo or play a true striker in the Champions League?

Now it’s over to you! Feel free to share your thoughts, predictions, upsets, and opinions and answers in the comments section below!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona began on Monday preparations for their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Atlético Madrid on Wednesday, and there was a notable absence from the session.

Frenkie de Jong was not among the players who trained under Hansi Flick’s orders on Monday as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury, and the Dutchman is not expected to feature in Wednesday’s clash along with the injured Raphinha, Andreas Christensen and Marc Bernal.

Flick and his staff hope to have Frenkie back at least for a few minutes in the weekend derby against Espanyol in La Liga, which would serve as a warm-up for De Jong to have the midfielder ready for the second leg against Atlético in the capital.

The absences of Frenkie and Bernal leave a big question mark in midfield: Gavi is not quite ready to start just yet, leaving Eric Garcia and Marc Casadó as the two options to start alongside Pedri at Camp Nou.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona enjoyed a very successful weekend in the La Liga title race thanks to a hard-fought win away to Atlético Madrid, which combined with Real Madrid’s loss to Mallorca on Saturday has increased the gap at the top to seven points.

The Catalans had to come from behind to win thanks to a late Robert Lewandowski goal, but Marcus Rashford’s beautiful equalizer put Barça on the comeback path and gave the Englishman a much-needed boost of confidence as he looks to replace a crucial piece of Hansi Flick’s system in the injured Raphinha.

Barça will meet Atlético again on Wednesday in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie, and Rashford will hope he’s done enough to earn another chance to play a decisive role in that one.

So today’s Barca Blaugranes Question of the Day is:

How do you rate Marcus Rashford’s performance against Atlético — and should he start in the Champions League?

Now it’s over to you! Feel free to share your thoughts, predictions, upsets, and opinions and answers in the comments section below!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona sure look like they’ve learned a lot since the devasting loss the last time they visited the Metropolitano.

They didn’t blow away Atlético Madrid on Saturday, but they managed their way through a chippy affair that could have turned sideways. Just the way Diego Simeone likes it.

Atleti had their chances. Antoine Griezmann in particular missed two wide open goals in the first half that could have put Barcelona against the ropes.

Luck was on the side of the Blaugrana in this one. Nico González earned his red card, after a disastrous first half in which Lamine Yamal ran the Argentinian out of the building. Gerard Martín, however, was fortunate to escape the same fate in the opening minutes of the second period.

From there, Atleti were more than comfortable sitting deep, and playing for a draw while playing down a man. Barcelona, on the hand, knew this was a massive opportunity to extend their lead over Real Madrid by an additional three points after their rivals capitulated to Mallorca earlier in the day.

It wasn’t a pretty game. Barcelona weren’t at their very best, but they were persistent, and eventually the game winner manifested, with João Cancelo banging down the door, and Robert Lewandowski fortuitously there to bring the win on home. The pragmatic approach to the game is just what was needed.

The big question coming in was whether the Blaugrana could count on Marcus Rashford while Raphinha is out.

Rashford wasn’t unstoppable, but he did the job. That’s all Hansi Flick is asking for. There’s a team of players surrounding him who have to do their part too.

The quick equalizer, in which Rashford combined with Dani Olmo, was an example of where the English international is the most dangerous. Not so much in picking up the ball and running past defenders, but in his ability to combine with teammates, and using them associatively to get in behind.

In addition to that, his set piece ability could be a real asset to Barcelona while Raphinha is out. Whether with free kicks, or from corners, Rashford has a unique ability on this team to deliver a lethal ball.

There really is a golden opportunity in front of Barcelona now.

La Liga is in their hands. They’ve proven that they are the favorites over Atlético Madrid in the Champions League. Their likely opponent in the semi-finals, should they advance, is Arsenal, a team that continues to show vulnerabilities after an FA Cup crash out to Southampton.

Raphinha may be out, but there is cavalry arriving in the form of Gavi, Jules Kounde, Alejandro Balde, and Frenkie de Jong.

Most promising of all is what we’re seeing from Hansi Flick.

He’s making small, but significant, changes to his tactical approach. The defense isn’t rock solid, but they are less exposed than they were a month ago.

Going into the Champions League, that should give us all reason to believe that maybe, just maybe, Barcelona are ready for a deep run.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona have received mixed news on Marc Bernal and Ronald Araujo after both players were taken off during Saturday’s win over Atletico in La Liga.

Araujo went off in the first half and was replaced by Bernal, but the midfielder then had to come off after the break after sustaining an issue.

According to Gerard Romero, Araujo just has an overload and will be available to play in Barcelona’s next games. However, Bernal has suffered an ankle problem which will keep him sidelined for around 10 days.

The news means that Bernal will not be available for the first leg of Barca’s Champions League quarter final against Atlético but could potentially play in the return.

Hansi Flick therefore has problems in midfield ahead of the game as it’s still unclear when Frenkie de Jong will return for the Catalan giants.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Atlético Madrid 1–2 FC Barcelona: Seven points clear – FC Barcelona
Lewandowski’s late winner sends the Catalans seven points clear at the top of the table after Real Madrid were beaten earlier in the day.

HIGHLIGHTS | Atlético Madrid v FC Barcelona – FC Barcelona
All the action from the La Liga clash at the Metropolitano in Madrid.

Hansi Flick: ‘We deserved the three points’ – FC Barcelona
The Barça coach and players Dani Olmo and Eric Garcia give reaction to Barça’s win at Atlético Madrid.

300 goals in the Flick era – FC Barcelona
Rashford’s equaliser completes third ton and Lewandowski makes it 301 with his winner.

Flick: “There are eight games left and nothing is decided yet” – Mundo Deportivo
The coach asserted that “I don’t focus on others, I focus on my team” and pointed out that “we must have this hunger, do our job.”

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona begin on Saturday a series of three giant games in 10 days against Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid, with the first having a huge impact in the La Liga title race before they meet in the Champions League quarter-finals over two legs.

Simeone’s side have invested a lot of money in recent seasons to assemble a squad of great players in all areas of the pitch, and there are several threats Barça should be worried about. Antoine Griezmann, Julián Alvarez, Ademola Lookman, Giuliano Simeone, Álex Baena and Alexander Sorloth are just some of the excellent options in attack, while Jan Oblak remains a rock in goal and the likes of Marcos Llorente and Koke provide leadership and experience in midfield.

So today’s Barca Blaugranes Question of the Day is:

Which Atlético Madrid player do Barcelona need to be most wary of in the upcoming La Liga and Champions League matches?

Now it’s over to you! Feel free to share your thoughts, predictions, upsets, and opinions and answers in the comments section below!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

The next Barcelona match is upon us! The Blaugrana return from the international break with a huge game away to Atlético Madrid at the Metropolitano, and Hansi Flick has called up the following 23 players for Saturday’s clash:

Goalkeepers: 13. Joan Garcia, 25. Wojciech Szczesny, 33. Eder Aller

Defenders: 2. João Cancelo, 3. Alejandro Balde, 4. Ronald Araujo, 5. Pau Cubarsí, 18. Gerard Martín, 23. Jules Kounde, 24. Eric Garcia, 42. Xavi Espart

Midfielders: 6. Gavi, 8. Pedri, 16. Fermín López, 17. Marc Casadó, 20. Dani Olmo, 22. Marc Bernal, 43. Tommy Marqués

Forwards: 7. Ferran Torres, 9. Robert Lewandowski, 10. Lamine Yamal, 14. Marcus Rashford, 19. Roony Bardghji

Barça get two key reinforcements for this one as Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde have been medically cleared to return after a month-long absence due to hamstring injuries, adding key depth at the back ahead of the stretch run. Frenkie de Jong (hamstring) is very close to a return but not quite ready yet, while Raphinha (hamstring) and Andreas Christensen (knee) are ruled out through injury.

Predicted starting XI (4-2-3-1):

Joan; Eric, Cubarsí, Martín, Cancelo; Bernal, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Rashford; Ferran

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The match kicks off at 9pm CET/WAT (Barcelona), 8pm GMT (UK & Nigeria), 3pm ET, 12pm PT (USA), 12.30am IST (India, Sunday), and you can join us to follow and comment all the action.

VISCA EL BARÇA!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

The state of the pitch at the Estadio Metropolitano, home of Atlético Madrid, where Barcelona will play twice in the next 10 days, has been a talking point for several weeks and Barça’s coach is fully aware.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Hansi Flick was asked about the playing surface at Atlético’s home, which was a topic of discussion after their Copa del Rey clash and also after Atlético’s Champions League clash with Tottenham Hotspur, with many wondering if Diego Simeone’s side are perhaps making their pitch worse on purpose to make it harder for teams such as Barcelona to enjoy possession in a perfect surface.

Flick said he’s already spoken to the team about the matter and told the players to be ready to change their equipment if necessary, but the coach is also aware that the bigger threat in both their Saturday league clash and in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie in 10 days will be the quality of Atlético’s players.

“We’ve talked about it. I’ve told the players that we need to look into this and they might have to change their boots. They need to prepare and adapt.

“Yes, it’s a match against one of the best teams in the league and in Europe. Therefore, they have a lot of quality and any player can decide the game. It’s very important not to make as many mistakes as in the last match there. I liked today’s training session and there are two very important months ahead.”

It can’t be a coincidence that two goalkeepers (Barça’s Joan Garcia and Tottenham’s Antonin Kinsky) made two gross errors in the exact same spot of the exact same penalty area that led to Atlético goals, so the state of the pitch is absolutely a cause for concern. If La Liga and UEFA won’t do anything about it, then Barça’s players must adapt and be ready for a bad surface.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona begin on Saturday against Atlético Madrid an absolutely crucial stretch of games in La Liga and the Champions League over the next month, and they have to do it all without Raphinha as the Brazilian suffered a hamstring injury with Brazil and has been ruled out for at least five weeks.

It’s a massive blow given Raphinha’s form prior to the injury and the huge games Barça will face without him, but Hansi Flick was his usual positive self when speaking about the topic at a press conference on Friday. Flick pointed at Marcus Rashford, Fermín López and Gavi as options to replace the Brazilian, and also shed light on why he decided to give Raphinha a few days off in Brazil before he begins his recovery.

“I’m happy with Marcus, he plays well. The last few weeks he’s had problems, he’s been injured, so it’s an opportunity for him. There are other options, Fermín, Gavi. I’m happy that Gavi is at a great level. We’ll see, there are more options.

“It’s normal. The players go with the national teams, the other players also have days off. It is not the first injury this season. I spoke with him, I saw him very low in spirits so I gave him a few days. He’s in good hands. It was my decision, so I let him go to Brazil for several days with his family. At this moment we decided something different.”

Flick shows his man-management skills here by realizing how deeply affected Raphinha was by the injury, and letting him travel far away to his homeland to recharge his batteries in a mental sense will help Raphinha regain his spirits before he starts yet another rehab process this season.

Replacing him won’t be easy, but Barça have a ton of quality options in midfield and attack and Flick is a good enough coach to find a way to thrive without such a crucial player.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Session with the internationals – FC Barcelona
All of the players apart from Raphinha were back for the Thursday training session.

When and where to watch Atlético Madrid v FC Barcelona – FC Barcelona
Our guide to the worldwide kick-off times and channels for upcoming La Liga match at the Metropolitano Stadium.

FC Barcelona 6-0 Real Madrid: Perfect six to reach semis – FC Barcelona
Utter superiority over two legs results in a 12-2 aggregate win to delight a packed Spotify Camp Nou.

Eighth UWCL semi-final! – FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona rip apart Real Madrid and are now just one step away from yet another European final.

Bayern Munich in UWCL semi-finals – FC Barcelona
Bavarians are the final team standing between FC Barcelona and a return to the showpiece event of the women’s football season.

The eternal captain: Alexia Putellas plays 500th game for Barça – FC Barcelona
And what an occasion to do it, in the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid at Spotify Camp Nou.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Robert Lewandowski’s future keeps on making headlines as the Barcelona striker heads to the end of his contract at the Camp Nou.

There’s been talk that Barcelona will offer a one-year extension to the veteran, although he will have to accept a significant pay cut to stay on for another 12 months.

Lewandowski is also thought to have offers from around the globe. Chicago Fire have been heavily linked with the 37-year-old, while there is believed to be interest from the Saudi Pro League.

Reports have also suggested that Serie A clubs such as AC Milan or Juventus could be willing to tempt Lewandowski for a fresh challenge in Italy.

So today’s Barca Blaugranes Question of the Day is:

Where do you think Robert Lewandowski will be playing his football next season?

Now it’s over to you! Feel free to share your thoughts, predictions, upsets, and opinions and answers in the comments section below!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

What’s the old wives’ tale? It’s no use crying over spilt milk…

That’s essentially the position Barcelona find themselves in at present, after Raphinha’s injury while on international duty with Brazil.

I, for one, have never really understood the value of having an international break at this point in any season, for precisely that reason.

Players are already tired from a long, hard season, their bodies battered… surely it benefits everyone by actually having a complete break at this point? Two weeks where players can rest and re-energise.

Of course, that’s a conversation for another day. What Barca needs to do now is ensure that they look forward and not back.

Use the anger that they feel over Raphinha’s absence to fuel their performances, both domestically and in Europe.

There have already been mutterings amongst culers that Marcus Rashford isn’t the answer, and while it’s blindingly obvious that they are completely different players, the Manchester United loanee’s return in terms of goals and assists isn’t that bad.

And what better way for him to earn the contract that he wants than by providing some man-of-the-match showings for Barca over the next few weeks, as the Catalans go for La Liga and Champions League success.

He’ll certainly never have a better opportunity to silence the doubters. Doubters who are always the glass-half-empty crowd rather than the glass half full.

In any walk of life, you find out more about yourself when under the biggest strain or pressure.

If this current crop of Barcelona players is really to be considered as contenders in both competitions, then now is the time to prove it. No excuses. No hiding behind Raphinha’s absence. Business as usual.

As long as no further bad luck befalls the squad over the next two to three weeks, then the expectation will be that Barca will go marching on and be able to bring the Brazilian back for the final few games of the season.

There’s still plenty to get excited about, and leaning into the positivity rather than distancing themselves from it can also serve culers well. All for one, and one for all as it were.

Ultimately, Raphinha’s injury might well be a blow from which the Blaugranes don’t recover, but accepting that scenario before a ball has even been kicked…. well, we might just as well pack up and go home.

Source: barcablaugranes.com