Barcelona FC news

The World Cup is rapidly approaching and there will be a strong Barcelona representation as several Blaugrana stars will feature for big nations who all have dreams of winning the biggest tournament in sports.

The Catalans have quite a few stars among the favorites, including Raphinha with Brazil, Frenkie de Jong with the Netherlands, Jules Kounde with France and Marcus Rashford with England, even though his place is not quite confirmed yet.

But the biggest Barça contingent is with La Roja as Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Gavi, Fermín López, Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, Pau Cubarsí, Eric Garcia, Gerard Martín and Joan Garcia have all been named in Spain’s preliminary squad. One or two might miss out on the final list, but Barça’s presence in the Spain squad will be very strong and several of those players will be key to their success this summer.

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

Which Barcelona players are you most excited to watch during the World Cup?

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

Source: barcablaugranes.com

The next Barcelona match is upon us! The La Liga champions play their final home game of the season against Real Betis at Camp Nou in what will also be Robert Lewandowski’s farewell match, and Hansi Flick has called up the following 23 players for Sunday’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, 15. Andreas Christensen, 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

Forwards: 7. Ferran Torres, 9. Robert Lewandowski, 11. Raphinha, 14. Marcus Rashford, 19. Roony Bardghji

Barça get a key piece back as Raphinha returns after serving a suspension in midweek, but the Blaugrana will be without Frenkie de Jong who has been ruled out through suspension and joins Lamine Yamal (hamstring) on the absentee list for this one.

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

Joan; Eric, Cubarsí, Martín, Cancelo; Gavi, Pedri; Roony, Fermín, Raphinha; Lewandowski

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The match kicks off at 9.15pm CET/WAT (Barcelona), 8.15pm BST/WAT (UK & Nigeria), 3.15pm ET, 12.15pm PT (USA), 12.45am IST (India, Monday), and you can join us to follow and comment all the action.

VISCA EL BARÇA!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Last session before Betis – FC Barcelona
Saturday morning brought the final training session of the week at the Ciutat Esportiva. The Tito Vilanova pitch was the venue as the players worked out ahead of the game against Real Betis.

Robert Lewandowski leaving FC Barcelona at the end of the season – FC Barcelona
Robert Lewandowski will bring his time as an FC Barcelona player to an end at the close of the season after announcing his departure via his own social media channels. The Polish striker is departing after four seasons in the Blaugrana jersey, having made his mark with goals, leadership and an exemplary competitive mentality.

Lewandowski: ‘Barça has been the most incredible chapter of my career’ – FC Barcelona
Alegend is saying departing. Robert Lewandowski has announced that he will leave FC Barcelona at the end of the current season and, once the final two Liga matches have been played, the Polish striker will bring a four-year chapter to a close, a period he himself describes as “the most incredible chapter” of his career.

Flick: ‘Lewandowski deserves a big farewell’ – FC Barcelona
Sunday’s Barça v Betis clash will carry extra emotion. Not only is it the final game of the season at Spotify Camp Nou, it will also mark Robert Lewandowski’s farewell to the Barça fans as a player.

Hansi Flick: “Completing all the home wins is a great objective” – Mundo Deportivo
The German coach announces a different starting eleven than the one that faced Vitoria, with Joan in goal and still without De Jong, to host Betis.

Flick: “It has been a privilege to work with Lewandowski, he is an example” – Mundo Deportivo
The German coach announced that the Polish player will start against Betis and recalled that “all my titles have been with him.”

Lewy’s essential goals that should not be forgotten – Mundo Deportivo
The Polish striker has scored 119 times for Barça across all competitions. This is just a small selection of some of his best goals.

“Barcelona has set an example of what a spectacle on the football field should be” – Mundo Deportivo
Manuel Pellegrini praises the style of play displayed by Hansi Flick’s squad and predicts a good match this Sunday between Barcelona and his Betis side, already in the Champions League: “Two teams that are dedicated to playing football and try to be creative.”

Six players are out of Betis’ squad for the Camp Nou match – Mundo Deportivo
Altimira, Bartra, Ruibal and Ortiz are out for the clash against FC Barcelona due to injury, and Llorente and Cucho are suspended.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Robert Lewandowski has confirmed he’s leaving Barcelona at the end of the season when his contract with the club expires.

The striker departs after winning three La Liga titles, the Copa del Rey and three Spanish Super Cups with the Catalan giants following his move from Bayern.

Lewandowski says it’s “mission accomplished” as far as Barcelona are confirmed and has thanked fans for all their support and love in a post on Instagram.

“After four years full of challenges and hard work, it’s time to move on. I leave with the feeling that the mission is complete. 4 seasons, 3 championships.

“I will never forget the love I received from the fans from my very first days. Catalonia is my place on earth.

“Thank you to everyone I met along the way during these beautiful four years. A special thank you to President Laporta for giving me the chance to live the most incredible chapter of my career.

“Barça is back where it belongs. Visca el Barça. Visca Catalunya.”

View this post on Instagram

The news means that Sunday’s match against Real Betis will be a farewell of sorts for Lewandowski as it’s his last game at Camp Nou for Hansi Flick’s side.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Training with Betis match in mind – FC Barcelona
Hansi Flick’s squad in for a training session at the Ciutat Esportiva with the final match of the season at Spotify Camp Nou on the horizon.

When and where to watch FC Barcelona v Real Betis Balompié – FC Barcelona
International kick-off times and viewing guide for the final match of the season at the Spotify Camp Nou.

One match away from making more history – FC Barcelona
Barça will create a new record for home wins in La Liga with a victory against Betis.

Jules Kounde called up for the 2026 World Cup – FC Barcelona
Didier Deschamps calls up the FC Barcelona number 23, the first Blaugrana confirmed to be going to the World Cup.

Álvaro Cortés: ‘It still hasn’t sunk in’ – FC Barcelona
Center-back speaks about his debut and has the traditional photo with the jersey in front of La Masia.

Flick will hold individual meetings about the future – Mundo Deportivo
The manager plans to speak with some players to clarify their position and short-term expectations. The future of Kounde, Balde, or Roony, who have fallen out of favor, is uncertain; Rashford’s case is different.

Araujo is not considering leaving Barça – Mundo Deportivo
The center-back has barely played since his recovery, mostly as a full-back, but his intention is to fulfill his contract until 2031.

João Pedro’s agent travels to London to meet with Chelsea and Barça – Mundo Deportivo
The agent arrived in the English capital from Brazil with contacts scheduled with the London club and with Deco, given Barcelona’s interest in the Brazilian striker due to difficulties with Julián Álvarez.

The reason why Roony was left off Sweden’s World Cup squad – Mundo Deportivo
The coach didn’t like his anger and attitude after not playing in the matches that secured qualification for the World Cup.

Unai Emery will push hard for Rashford and Barça know it – Mundo Deportivo
The Aston Villa manager is prepared to make a strong bid for the English winger currently on loan at Barcelona from Manchester United; the player wants to stay at the Camp Nou.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Robert Lewandowski appears to be heading towards the exit door at Barcelona and is being tipped to head to Saudi Arabia or MLS when his contract expires.

Poland legend Jan Tomaszewski believes that Lewandowski is being pushed out of Barcelona, claiming the club will only make an “embarrassing offer” to the veteran and that the players have lost faith in striker.

“It seems Robert was forced to leave. It’s clear that Robert is, how should I put it, an unwanted player, both by the players and by the Barcelona management, ” he told Super Express.

“I’m convinced that if he receives another offer to stay at Barcelona, it will be embarrassing. A player like that shouldn’t allow himself to be dragged through that.

“The players aren’t really behind Robert when it comes to play, because they’re not passing the ball to him the way they used to play him at Bayern Munich.”

Tomaszewski has been outspoken about Lewandowski’s future throughout this season. The former goalkeeper said last month the striker should “behave like a man” and bizarrely claimed Hansi Flick had “ruined” the team.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

The Spanish Association of Football Referees (AESAF) has called for disciplinary proceedings to be opened against Real Madrid president Florentino Perez following his rants this week.

Perez went on the attack and criticised referees, the media, and Barcelona. He also claimed Los Blancos had been robbed of league titles due to match officials.

“I’ve won seven Champions Leagues and only seven LaLiga titles.It could have been 14, but they were stolen from me,” he said.

His comments have now brought a strong response from the AESAF.

“The Spanish Association of Football Referees denounces the statements made by the president of Real Madrid in the press conference of May 12 and in the interview broadcast on La Sexta on May 13, 2026, in which he accused the refereeing establishment of systemic corruption, theft of titles and illicit enrichment.

“AESAF believes that these statements cannot be justified under the legitimate exercise of freedom of expression or sports criticism, given that Mr. Pérez does not merely point out isolated refereeing errors, but rather accuses the refereeing body of perpetrating a continuous crime of corruption over two decades. Furthermore, AESAF emphasizes that the president of Real Madrid acts at all times as the highest institutional representative of one of the world’s most high-profile clubs, which amplifies the damaging impact of his words and increases his responsibility.

“AESAF also requests that the Competition Committee, as a precautionary and urgent measure, order Mr. Pérez to cease issuing similar statements while the proceedings are underway; that he be required to compensate the Refereeing Association for the moral, reputational, and professional damage caused; and that Real Madrid CF be required to issue a public statement of rectification and apology.

“In the opinion of AESAF, Mr. Pérez’s statements constitute a serious, unjustified, and systematic attack on the professional and institutional honor of the Refereeing Association, without any basis in a final judicial ruling. AESAF, in fulfilling its statutory function of defending the refereeing profession, has acted with the utmost diligence to protect the dignity and moral integrity of football referees in Spain.”

Barcelona have already issued a statement to confirm they are considering legal action which led to a swift response from Perez. “Barça would do very well to sue me. If they think they have to do it, let them do it,” he told La Sexta.

Perez was then met by angry fans when Real Madrid returned to action against Real Oviedo on Thursday. Two banners criticising the club president were removed by security in a game which saw Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr booed by supporters.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona have reportedly switched fous from Julian Alvarez to Joao Pedro as they hunt for a replacement for Robert Lewandowski.

It’s looking increasingly like Lewandowski will wave goodbye to Barcelona once his contract expires at the end of the season.

According to Mundo Deportivo and Globo, Deco has now decided that Pedro is his No. 1 attacking target. The club have switched focus after learning of PSG’s interest in Alvarez.

The Ligue 1 champions are believed to be willing to offer Atletico more than €100 million for the Argentine, a fee that Barcelona know they can’t match.

The Catalans also believe that if Atletico do decide to sell Alvarez, they would rather see him move to France than strengthen a rival in Spain.

Barcelona also think that Pedro is a far cheaper option and could be signed from Chelsea for €70m, particularly if – as looks likely – the Premier League side miss out on European football.

Pedro only signed for Chelsea last summer but has enjoyed a good season despite the club’s difficulties, scoring 20 goals in all competitions.

This summer promises more changes at Stamford Bridge as a new manager will be appointed to replace Liam Rosenior.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Robert Lewandowski looks increasingly like he’s set to leave Barcelona at the end of the season when his contract with the club expires.

The striker has insisted he hasn’t made a decision yet but there’s growing speculation that a move to the Saudi Pro League is on the cards.

Al-Hilal appear to be in pole position for his signature, according to WP SportoweFakty. The club are willing to offer Lewandowski a deal worth €90 million a season and he’s said to be “close” to accepting.

Lewandowski is thought to now be open to a move to Saudi Arabia as it would offer him regular playing time but “lighter training” which he feels could help prolong his international career and is the right step as he heads towards the end of his career.

Al-Hilal are the defending Saudi Pro League champions and are currently battling it out at the top of the table with Al-Nassr.

The club boast plenty of big names in their squad such as Karim Benzema, Ruben Neves and Darwin Nunez, while Joao Cancelo is also on their books but currently on loan at Barca

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Ronald Araujo appears to be facing an uncertain future at Barcelona heading into the summer transfer window due to a lack of playing time at Camp Nou.

A new report from AS claims that a source close to the player says his future is “up in the air” and that he has hinted at having doubts about his place at the club to friends and family.

The Uruguay international has accepted being a substitute this season but “believes he should play more” and feels he could even be a starter in Hansi Flick’s team.

Yet Flick has only used Araujo sparingly since he returned from a mental health break. He’s only made three starts since then and didn’t feature at all against Real Madrid or Alaves.

Indeed Flick opted to use Alvaro Cortes on Wednesday night instead of handing Araujo a rare start.

AS says that Araujo still loves being at Barcelona and has the backing of the manager and the dressing room. However, his role as a substitute is now “fuelling doubts” about his future as Barca head to the end of their season.

Does Araujo deserve more game time at Barcelona? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona have reportedly offered Real Oviedo the chance to sign exciting youngsters Xavi Espart and Toni Fernandez on loan for next season.

The two players are currently in and around the first team and have been tipped to make the breakthrough into the senior squad in the future.

According to Diario Sport, the Catalans are eager for both players to continue their development by going out on loan next season in order to play regular first-team minutes.

Real Oviedo have been offered the chance to land the duo following their relegation from La Liga. The Asturian side look set to finish bottom as they are currently seven points adrift with just three games left.

Interestingly, the report adds that Barca are thinking about trying to include a clause to ensure both players must feature for at least “66% of the minutes of the season.”

Both Espart and Fernandez have already debuted for Barca’s first-team but there’s no clear pathway into Flick’s side at present due to the intense competition for places.

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

Should Barcelona send Toni Fernandez and Xavi Espart out on loan next season?

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

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona’s Clasico win over Real Madrid on Sunday featured a clash between Eric Garcia and Jude Bellingham that left the England midfielder requiring treatment.

Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa called it a “clear elbow” after the game and questioned why VAR did not intervene, while RMTV also did their usual thing of criticising the match officials in the aftermath of the game.

The Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) has now reviewed the incident and explained why no sanctions were handed out.

“A Barcelona defender made contact with a Real Madrid player’s face with his arm. The referee allowed play to continue, and VAR decided not to intervene.

“The CTA upholds this decision because the action is open to interpretation, and there is no clear or obvious error. In contact incidents, the intensity must be assessed, and this action adheres to protocol.”

Real Madrid hit out at referees again on Tuesday, with president Florentino Perez indulging in a bizarre rant at a press conference. Barca have already responded and confirmed they could take legal action against the 79-year-old.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

The next Barcelona match is upon us! The newly-crowned back-to-back La Liga champions are in the Basque Country to face Deportivo Alavés, and Hansi Flick has called up the following 23 players for Wednesday’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, 15. Andreas Christensen, 18. Gerard Martín, 23. Jules Kounde, 24. Eric Garcia, 36. Álvaro Cortés, 42. Xavi Espart

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

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

The big news for this one is the return of Andreas Christensen, who is back after missing several months with a knee injury. There are some key absences, however, as Flick decides to rest Fermín López and Frenkie de Jong, who didn’t even travel, while Raphinha misses out through suspension and Lamine Yamal (hamstring) is ruled out through injury.

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

Joan; Kounde, Araujo, Eric, Balde; Casadó, Bernal; Roony, Olmo, Rashford; Lewandowski

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The match kicks off at 9.30pm CET/WAT (Barcelona), 8.30pm BST/WAT (UK & Nigeria), 3.30pm ET, 12.30pm PT (USA), 1am IST (India, Thursday), and you can join us to follow and comment all the action.

VISCA EL BARÇA!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona boss Hansi Flick has confirmed he will renew his contract with the club and is happy to stay on after delivering another La Liga title.

The German coach has claimed five titles in his two seasons in charge and will put pen to paper on an extension that will keep him at Camp Nou until 2028.

“During these last few days I have had to do several things. I’m very happy, this gives me the confidence to keep working for another year or two,” he told a pre-match press conferene.

“I think a lot of coaches would be very happy if they signed a three, four-year contract. But in the case of Barça it is good to limit it.

“We will continue until 2028 and if everything goes well, we will make the decision to continue for another year.”

After winning La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup twice and the Copa del Rey once, Flick will be aiming to add the Champions League to his haul next season.

The Barca boss has already been tipped to bring the European Cup back to Barcelona by Karl-Heinze Rummenigge and improve on the last two seasons where the Catalans reached the semi-finals and quarter-finals.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Hansi Flick has given his verdict on Lamine Yamal’s decision to wave a Palestine flag during Barcelona’s La Liga title celebrations on Monday.

Yamal was seen waving the flag during the five-hour long parade and also uploaded a few pictures of Instagram afterwards of him holding the flag and a Barcelona shirt with the message: “Thank God I’m not Madridista.”

Flick was asked about Yamal in his pre-match press conference ahead of Barcelona’s next game against Alaves and shared his thoughts.

“These are things that I don’t normally like. I have talked about it with him and I have told him that if he wants to do it is his decision, he’s 18 years old. We are dedicated to playing football and we have to take into account what people expect from us,” he told reporters.

Flick went on to speak about the parade and what is was like to share the victory with so many of the the club’s supporters.

“When I see people on the street crying with emotion you realize why we are here, and this for me is the most important thing, the first thing,” he added.

“I feel proud because it’s about the players, they’re playing a fantastic season that hasn’t been easy, there have been a lot of injuries.

“We’ve improved a lot over the last two months, it’s fantastic and it was the key to our win against Madrid. We are the team with the fewest goals conceded, nobody would have imagined it.”

Barcelona still have three games left to play, with Flick confirming he’s eager to finish on a high: “The goal now is to reach 100 points, and to do that we have to win the three remaining matches and play well.”

Source: barcablaugranes.com

The Champions Parade – FC Barcelona
All the details as they happen of the Liga and Super Cup title celebrations in the streets of Barcelona.

Hansi Flick makes two league titles out of two – FC Barcelona
Barça’s German coach leads his squad to a second consecutive La Liga crown to join a select group of Blaugrana bosses.

First Liga for four players – FC Barcelona
Joan Garcia, Marcus Rashford, João Cancelo and Roony Bardghji have all become Spanish champions for the first time.

João Cancelo, four out of five as league champion – FC Barcelona
Barça defender João Cancelo has another league title for his collection. The La Liga title means the Portuguese full-back has now won four league championships of the five major European leagues.

Costa Adeje Tenerife 1-3 Barça Femení: Victory in the islands – FC Barcelona
Barça break down a defensive wall to claim three more points, extend their winning run and build momentum ahead of the Cup.

Lamine Yamal teases Jude Bellingham after Barcelona Clásico win – ESPN
Lamine Yamal appeared to bite back at Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham with a light-hearted “Talk is cheap” message on social media after Barcelona clinched the LaLiga title on Sunday.

Marcus Rashford says goal in La Liga clincher ‘perfect’ ending – ESPN
Marcus Rashford said if he was a magician he would stay at Barcelona after scoring in Sunday’s title-winning victory against Real Madrid.

Barça-Flick agreement for a renewal! – Mundo Deportivo
The coach’s agent and Deco sealed an extension agreement until 2028 that also includes an optional year until 2029 depending on objectives.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Real Madrid TV have been making headlines all season and are back in the news again after Sunday’s Clasico win delivered Barcelona the title at their rivals’ expense.

Goals from Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres secured another win for Barcelona to move them 14 points clear of Madrid with just three games left to play.

Real Madrid TV were once again left furious by the whole situation and so decided to once again criticise the refereeing, taking aim at Eric Garcia and his challenge on Jude Bellingham.

“Perhaps a push at neck level is something more, but we didn’t see it. What we did see was an elbow from Eric García that is clearly a penalty and also a red card offense,” was the argument on Real Madrid TV.

“It’s yet another demonstration of VAR inaction that fails to correct what could be an injustice. If this is considered a play in the game, then everything can be considered a play in the game; anyone who has played football knows that Eric García did that intentionally.”

There were also claims that Dani Olmo should have been sent off, before RMTV went to lauch a full-blown attack on La Liga, television coverage and Javier Tebas.

“The Spanish League is not serious. The Spanish League, Tebas’s league, Negreira’s league. It’s a circus and a farce. This is appalling. The broadcast of the Spanish League is a disgrace.

“The most serious issue is the lack of footage. When there have been controversial plays, we’ve seen excellent panoramic shots when Real Madrid was the intended target of the foul. Suddenly, once again, the broadcast cuts out during a crucial foul.

“This broadcast is handled by HBS, a company contracted by Tebas, which, in turn, is a subsidiary of Mediapro, and whose directors belong to the former Mediapro and are the ones dictating the editorial line and how they want the match to be presented to the fans.

“Every time there are questionable plays, VAR intervenes when it suits them. And when does VAR intervene? It only intervenes to harm Real Madrid.”

The defeat comes at the end of a difficult week for Los Blancos which was marred by allegations of an alteration between Fede Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni that saw the Uruguayan hospitalised and both players handed hefty fines.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski admits he is still yet to make a decision on his future after winning La Liga again with Hansi Flick’s side.

The veteran striker is coming to the end of his contract with the Catalan giants but says he has plenty to think about regarding his next move.

“What will I do? I don’t know. I just heard I have 51 days left on my contract. I’ll listen to a few more offers and then decide, ” he told Eleven Sports.

“There might be an option for a lower league. I’m about to turn 38, so I won’t deny that it might be time to think about it. On the other hand, I feel good physically, so I have a mix of things in mind.

“I have to consider that it might be time to play and enjoy life. Maybe that’s an option, so I’m not saying no.”

Lewandowski reportedly has offers from Saudi Arabia, MLS and Serie A on the table for next season, while Joan Laporta has said he “deserves” a new deal at Barcelona.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

The next Barcelona match is upon us! The Blaugrana play the final El Clásico of the season against Real Madrid needing a win or a draw to clinch the La Liga title at Camp Nou, and Hansi Flick has called up the following 23 players for Sunday’s game:

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, 21. Frenkie de Jong, 22. Marc Bernal

Forwards: 7. Ferran Torres, 9. Robert Lewandowski, 11. Raphinha, 14. Marcus Rashford, 19. Roony Bardghji

Barça get their starting right-back back for this one as Jules Kounde returns after serving a suspension last week, and only Lamine Yamal (hamstring) is ruled out through injury while Andreas Christensen (knee) is back in training but still awaits his medical clearance.

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

Joan; Kounde, Cubarsí, Martín, Cancelo; Gavi, Pedri; Roony, Olmo, Fermín; Lewandowski

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

VISCA EL BARÇA!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

All set for El Clásico – FC Barcelona
Hansi Flick holds the final training session before Sunday’s big game against Real Madrid.

Hansi Flick ready for ‘the final step’ – FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona head into Sunday’s Clásico knowing that victory would secure once and for all the La Liga title. Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Hansi Flick praised the work done throughout the season and stressed the importance of staying true to the team’s identity in a match of this magnitude.

Bernal: ‘It will be a day to remember’ – FC Barcelona
He was clear and in no doubt. Marc Bernal had this message ahead of the Clásico on Sunday at Spotify Camp Nou, “I would say to the fans that they should trust us, that we should all stick together because it will be very special and a day to remember”. It won’t be easy, but this homegrown Blaugrana is confident and “can’t wait for the match”.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick praises ‘special atmosphere’ at club ahead of El Clásico – ESPN
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick celebrated the “special atmosphere” at the club going into Sunday’s Clásico against a Real Madrid side whose preparation for the game has been overshadowed by in-fighting.

Barcelona will receive the trophy on Sunday if they win La Liga – Mundo Deportivo
Spanish Federation president Rafael Louzán will be at the Spotify Camp Nou and will present the trophy at the end of the match if the home team clinches the title.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Michael Carrick’s success in securing UEFA Champions League football for Manchester United could affect Marcus Rashford’s future at FC Barcelona. The interim manager is publicly pushing for “clarity” regarding his own role and the squad’s direction, signaling a desire to bring the forward back to Old Trafford this summer. Carrick maintains that Rashford can still find his best form in Manchester, even as United’s sporting department weighs a permanent sale to clear his high wages from the books.

At the Ciutat Esportiva, the mood is equally conflicted. On paper, Rashford has been a statistical revelation. He is averaging a goal contribution every 88 minutes, which is identical to Lamine Yamal’s rate. His 13 goals and 14 assists place him among the most efficient debutants in Barcelona history, trailing only the historic first year of Luis Suárez. He is also quite literally the fastest man on the pitch. Heading into this Sunday’s Clasico, data shows he leads both Barça and Real Madrid players with an average top speed of 34.16 km/h, even edging out Kylian Mbappé.

But Hansi Flick is looking for more than pure speed and stats. The German manager has been vocal about the margin for improvement regarding Rashford’s defensive work rate and consistency. Flick has often lamented the absence of Raphinha’s relentless pressing. “If there is someone committed to winning at Barcelona, that is Raphinha. When he is not there, he is missed,” Flick said recently.

Barcelona is still reeling from a financial crisis and must be prudent in spending. While a 30 million euro purchase option seemed reasonable initially, the total package is a deterrent for Rashford’s transfer to go through. Considering the fee and his wages, the operation would cost closer to 60 million euros over a three-year amortization period. For a player turning 29 this year, the board is reportedly unconvinced. Deco has already begun looking elsewhere, recently meeting with Anthony Gordon’s representatives to scout a younger, potentially more cost-effective alternative.

Regardless, another point in favor for Rashford has been his adaptation. He has integrated seamlessly into the locker room, forming a close bond with Roony Bardghji. His teammates generally want him to stay, with one player being quoted as saying, “He is a player we would like to stay.”

Flick, however, has been less committal lately, dropping the Englishman from the starting lineup in recent weeks.

The manager’s earlier praise remains the high-water mark of the loan. Following a brace at St. James’ Park, Flick praised his finishing and ability. Notably, however, the German coach said Rashford had taken the first step to proving himself, but still needed to take a second step.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

The atmosphere inside the Barcelona locker room is hitting a fever pitch ahead of Sunday’s Clásico, with the math finally lining up for a potential trophy celebration on home soil. Ferran Torres isn’t hiding the team’s collective desire to wrap up the race now.

“We are very excited to be able to close the league championship as soon as possible, especially against Madrid. It will be a very beautiful match,” the forward told club media during a pre-match sit-down.

Barcelona enters the weekend with an 11-point cushion over their rivals, meaning a win or even a draw would mathematically secure the title with three games to spare. Only a loss would force Hansi Flick’s side to wait another week. Flick has reportedly been using recent training sessions to finalize a lineup that can maintain the team’s current ten-game winning streak. Torres is pushing for a start after finding the net against Osasuna at El Sadar, and his history in this fixture – including three assists in the 4-3 thriller at Montjuïc – makes him a viable candidate for the XI.

“I would say it is the most special Clásico because we can give the Culés this joy of winning the league against Real Madrid at the Camp Nou for the first time. Many factors come together that give us hope,” Ferran said. He emphasized that the trophy would validate the progress made under the current staff, adding that “winning this league would signify merit; we are a team that has grown and that deserves it.”

The road to a potential 100-point finish is still open if Barça wins their remaining four fixtures against Madrid, Deportivo Alavés, Real Betis, and Valencia. Despite the momentum, the squad is wary of the individual talent lurking in the visitors’ ranks. Torres admitted that “anything can happen, as Madrid has high-quality players … What I am sure of is that everything depends on us: we will go out to get the three points and the league.”

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Lionel Messi says there’s no doubt at all that Barcelona star Lamine Yamal is the best of the latest generations of footballers making a mark on the world.

Yamal has taken over Messi’s No. 10 shirt at Barcelona and has been widely tipped to follow in the Argentine’s footsteps and go on and become the best player in the world.

Messi spoke about the future of football at a recent event and gave his blessing to Yamal.

“There is a new generation of footballers who are very good and who have many years ahead of them, but if I have to choose one because of age, for what he has done so far and for the future he may have, he is Lamine. There’s no doubt, for me he’s the best,” he said, as reported by Sport.

Yamal finished second behind Ousmane Dembele at the last Ballon d’Or awards at the tender age of just 18 and will be among the favorites for top spot again this year.

The Barca star is set to win his third La Liga title this season with Barcelona and will then head to the World Cup with Spain.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Hansi Flick is on the verge of winning back-to-back La Liga titles and claiming his fifth trophy in two seasons as Barcelona manager, but the wait for a Champions League title continues and will no doubt add more pressure to the coach, the players and the club to finally end a decade-plus wait for European glory next season.

Barça were two minutes way from the Final last year before a heartbreaking ending in the semi-final at San Siro, and could have very well made it to the title match this season if not for a painful exit against Atlético Madrid at the quarter-final stage that was filled with missed opportunities and controversial decisions.

The Blaugrana— and their coach — have been criticized for being unwilling to adapt their high-risk, high-reward style that works so well in La Liga but hasn’t brought major success in Europe, and watching both PSG and Arsenal have a more cautious approach in the second legs of their semi-final victories certainly makes it worth wondering if it’s finally time for Flick and Barça to re-think their philosophy in big European matches, even if it means a departure from the club’s traditional values when it comes to their playing style.

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

Would you accept Barcelona playing a more pragmatic style of football if it delivered the Champions League?

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

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona legend Carles Puyol has warned Hansi Flick’s side not to get distracted by the ongoing chaos at Real Madrid ahead of El Clasico.

Los Blancos have been making headlines for all the wrong reasons ahead of the clash, with Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni reportedly fighting and a petition calling for Kylian Mbappe to leave the club going viral.

Barcelona head into the game needing just a point to be crowned champions, but Puyol says Flick’s team should not underestimate the opposition.

“What I’d tell the Barça players is to stay focused and not let all this news distract them. And think about winning to celebrate the league title,” he said.

“Winning after winning is always complicated. Egos can take over, and in a locker room everyone must understand that the team comes before the individual. If you don’t manage that, problems arise.

“This Clásico is extra motivation, being able to close out the season at home and win the League title. All the culers are really eager.”

The two teams meet at Camp Nou on Sunday night in La Liga.

Source: barcablaugranes.com