Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has cautioned his side to stay focused as they prepare to face Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Laliga this weekend.
The Catalan giants who are fresh off defeating Portuguese side Benfica 4-1 on aggregate in the UEFA Champions League round of 16, will travel to the Wanda Metropolitano to face Diego Simeone’s side on Sunday.
There has been two meetings between both sides this season, with the Rojiblancos winning the reverse fixture 2-1 in December and their last meeting in the Copa Del Rey semifinal first leg ending in an entertaining 4-4 draw last month.
“I think we have actually made two great matches against Atlético, but of course we have to be focused from the beginning to the end of the match”, Flick said in a news conference.
“I think in the first match, at the end we were not so focused like we can be. Also the second match was the same, in the beginning and also at the end, so we have to take care about that.
When you make mistakes, Atlético can hurt you and this is what we have to defend against.”
Barcelona head into the encounter currently top of the standings level on points with arch rivals Real Madrid although they have played a game less, and Flick has cautioned his players to maintain their concentration ahead of the match.
“It’s also a long way to go for that, it’s one match, if you win this match it will be very good to give you more confidence, more belief in what you’re doing.
They are one of the best teams, Real Madrid, Athletic Bilbao and Atlético, they are fantastic teams”, the former Bayern Munich coach added.
Both sides need a win to continue their push towards claiming the crown from Real Madrid, as the title race heats up between the three teams.
“LaLiga clubs know how to play football, it’s not easy to win against all these teams, they have something special. But we’re in a really good situation, we’re on a really good level, a fantastic level, I’m very happy about this”, he continued.
“If you are focused and eveyone gives his best version, we have a lot of potential in the team. This is what I see at the moment and this makes me really, really happy.”
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
