Flick wants to see composure in front of goal in Atletico clash – Soccer News

Barcelona need to be clinical if they are to overcome Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey, so says Hansi Flick.

Atleti beat Barcelona 2-1 in December, as Diego Simeone claimed his first away win in LaLiga over the Blaugrana.

Barca had 19 shots and accumulated 2.72 expected goals (xG) in the defeat, with Atleti scoring twice from 0.63 xG and just five attempts.

Flick’s team returned to the summit of LaLiga, leapfrogging Atleti, with a gritty 2-0 defeat of Las Palmas on Saturday, and now the German coach, who turned 60 on Monday, wants to see a cutting edge from his side in Tuesday’s first leg.

“This is a new game. We have to prove it,” Flick told reporters.

“Atleti are a great team, they have invested a lot of money. They have the best defenders and the best attackers. It’s going to be a tough game.

“The positive thing we learned [from the defeat] is that we can play good football. What we showed there was on the highest level. We had the possibility to score one or two more goals before they scored.

“We have to take advantage of the opportunity to score, the important thing is to score goals. And we have to keep in mind that it’s two games and not just one.”

Birthday tickles for Hansi Flick! pic.twitter.com/uqKbKqPIWQ

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 24, 2025

Flick is hoping to have Lamine Yamal available after the 17-year-old winger missed training on Monday due to a knock he suffered against Las Palmas.

“We will have to wait to see if he can play, I see the situation as positive from what the doctor has told us. And we want him to be with us,” Flick said.

Dani Olmo, meanwhile, could be fit to play a full 90 minutes after coming off the bench to score on Saturday.

“For me, the most important thing is that he can start from the beginning, we have to look after him and that’s what we’ve been doing,” Flick said.

“The goal he scored against Las Palmas was very important.”