Three critical matches await Barcelona in just seven days: a home clash against Sevilla, a rematch with Bayern Munich, and a trip to Madrid for El Clásico. This week may not decide any title, but it will surely reveal how ready Barcelona is for the challenges ahead.
It’s easy to overstate the importance of current events, whether in media or private discussions. We often view the present as the ultimate turning point, regardless of the past or what lies ahead. In some cases, it’s an exaggeration — a typical human bias. But there are moments when it truly feels like a decisive crossroads. For Barcelona, the next few days fit that description. Within just a week, they’ll return from the international break, host Sevilla and Bayern Munich, then travel to Madrid for El Clásico. It’s a stretch that may indeed prove monumental.
Almost Perfect Start for the ‘Flick Era’
Barcelona’s 11 games this season have left plenty of room for optimism. They’re sitting atop the table with 24 out of 27 points. Only two other teams in La Liga history, both from Madrid, have amassed this many points at this stage of the season — and both went on to lift the trophy. Add to that the fact that Barcelona’s attack is statistically the most dangerous across Europe’s top five leagues, and it’s hard not to feel the sky is the limit.
Under Hansi Flick, the team seems to have found its stride. He has transformed Raphinha, one of the most criticized players, into someone who contributes either a goal or assist in every match on average. He has reignited Lewandowski’s scoring touch at age 36. He’s even turned Inigo Martinez, once considered the definition of average, into a defensive rock. And he’s done all this with five regular starters injured, plus others getting hurt as they tried to step in.
Still, there are cracks. In their opening Champions League match against Monaco, Barcelona showed their old tendency to collapse under pressure. Eric Garcia got a red card after a careless foul just ten minutes in, and the defeat soon followed. The next week, the Catalans traveled to Pamplona with a rotated lineup and ended up conceding four goals. The big question hanging over them this season is their defense, in stark contrast to 2022-23, when they clinched the title thanks to rock-solid backline performances and clean sheets galore.
Midfield Upgrade Just On Time
This week, Flick’s midfield is set for reinforcements. Gavi returns after nearly a year out with injury, Fermin Lopez makes his first squad appearance since that famous seven-goal demolition of Real Valladolid, and Dani Olmo, who has scored in all three matches he’s played, is fit again just in time. Frenkie de Jong, who made his comeback from an ankle injury right before the break, felt discomfort during Friday’s training, so his status for this crucial run of games remains uncertain.
The first test for the Blaugrana will come against Sevilla tonight (Sunday) at Montjuic. Sevilla, coached by Garcia Pimienta — a former Barcelona player in the late ’90s and Barca Athletic’s coach until 2021 — come in after a vital 1-0 derby win against Betis. Despite this, they sit 12th in the table and haven’t managed to beat Barcelona in the league in nine years. After that, Bayern Munich arrives, likely in high spirits after a dominant 4-0 win over Stuttgart, who, let’s not forget, finished above the Bavarians last season. Vincent Kompany’s team remains unbeaten in their last seven league games, although they did drop crucial points against Aston Villa.
‘El Clasico’ On The Horizon
The week wraps up next Saturday with Real Madrid in El Clásico. Though they have dropped points in three league games and lost to Lille in France, they are tied with Barcelona at 24 points heading into tonight’s match. Ancelotti’s men narrowly edged out Celta Vigo 1-2 last night (Saturday), thanks to a spectacular Mbappe strike and a winner from Vinicius. They’re set to face Dortmund on Tuesday, in a rematch of a famous Champions League final. Despite having an exceptionally talented squad, Real Madrid have faced plenty of criticism — most of their wins have lacked conviction. Yet, they still keep finding ways to grind out results.
Shortly after Xavi arrived, Barcelona had the upper hand in the rivalry. They celebrated a 4-0 win at the Bernabéu, leading to four victories in five encounters. But things have since turned around. Since Franck Kessie’s dramatic 92nd-minute winner in March 2023, Real Madrid have dominated, winning the last five official meetings.
To say the upcoming week will define Barcelona’s season might be an overstatement — after all, titles aren’t won in October. But there’s no doubt they will emerge from it changed. Barca could end the week with a six-point lead at the top and a satisfying win over Flick’s and Lewandowski’s former club, which has become a major thorn in their side. On the other hand, a more pessimistic outcome could see them lose the top spot to Madrid and find themselves in serious trouble in the Champions League by the third matchday. And, of course, there’s always the possibility that by Saturday night, the results are somewhere in the middle — but at Barca, it rarely feels like there’s an in-between.
Tal Jaschek is a content creator and writer at Barça Buzz, covering FC Barcelona and bringing the latest stories to fans worldwide. With experience at Sport5, Tal has worked across multiple aspects of football media, from video content to written articles. Proficient in four languages, Tal leverages a global perspective to connect with diverse audiences and tell the stories that matter in football.
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