Hansi Flick has made a very encouraging start to life as Barcelona’s head coach. While the Spanish Super Cup may not be the most prestigious of trophies, Flick’s team claimed it in morale-boosting fashion, beating Real Madrid 5-2 in the January final. More importantly, they finished an impressive second behind Liverpool in the new Champions League league phase, comfortably qualifying for the last 16.
In the pursuit of Real Madrid in La Liga, Flick had them four points behind the reigning champions after 22 games. The Copa del Rey last four was reached, meanwhile, with successive 4-0, 5-1 and 5-0 victories. In fact, after beating Valencia 5-0 away from home in the quarter finals, Flick’s Barça had scored 109 goals in just 35 games of the 2024/25 season – one short of the 110 they scored in 53 games of the entire campaign before Flick’s arrival.
It has been a return to form for Flick, who became the first manager of the men’s German national team to be sacked, when he was dismissed in 2023. This followed the high point of his managerial career: winning all six trophies available to Bayern Munich in 2020.
Below, UEFA-licensed coaches from Coaches’ Voice have analysed Barcelona’s play under Flick…
Breaking blocks
After 22 La Liga games under Flick, Barcelona had the highest average ball possession (66.5 per cent), ahead of Real Madrid (60.7 per cent). These two giants of the Spanish game frequently face compact blocks – as opposed to aggressive pressing – which naturally increases opportunities to patiently build. For Flick’s Barcelona, this build by the back line and midfield involves searching for number eights and a front-line trio in a 4-3-3, or number 10 in a 4-2-3-1.
The two players with the most passes in the league have been Barcelona centre-backs Pau Cubarsí (1,682) and Íñigo Martínez (1,508). This reflects their frequent connections with the double pivots, Pedri (1,246) and Marc Casadó (1,110), who also featured in the top 12 for total passes. This central foursome often conduct Barcelona's deeper play, combining and connecting with short passes.
In this part of Barcelona's build, passes create time for the full-backs to advance, with left-back Alejandro Balde keen to get forward. He often does so much earlier than right-back Jules Koundé – who ranks eighth in La Liga for most passes (1,139) – who has tended to support with delayed runs.
Left-winger Raphinha also attacks from a wide starting position. There, he will look to invert between the lines, connecting with the number 10 Dani Olmo, or Fermín López. On Barcelona’s right side, Lamine Yamal has tended to hold the width for longer, with Robert Lewandowski operating as the single central forward (below).
At time of writing, Barcelona had played the fewest long passes in the league, with Flick heavily enforcing their classic passing style. From this starting base, Barcelona’s deeper players have connected and set the tempo before playing incisive passes to those rotating ahead. There, much quicker combinations occur as the front three, number 10 and at least one of the pivots or full-backs crash the penalty area with purpose.
Getting the best out of Lewandowski
Lewandowski arrived at Barcelona aged 33, and was 36 when Flick joined the club – but his goalscoring has shown no sign of declining. The centre-forward scored 42 goals in 69 La Liga matches prior to Flick’s arrival, and had 18 in his first 21 games under Flick.
At Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, Lewandowski thrived when playing as the lone striker. He worked off fluid wide attackers who supported him with dribbles and crosses, plus tight combinations in and around his feet, within the spaces between the lines. Barcelona have both in abundance, while Lewandowski has maintained his clinical touch in front of goal.
After 22 La Liga games in 2024/25, Barcelona had played the most key passes (121) and most passes into the final third (1,574). On the left, Raphinha had provided 26 key passes – the most in the division. These often came when he had come inside from the touchline, to slide a pass into Lewandowski as the forward peeled off the shoulder of the centre-back. Raphinha has also delivered crosses for Lewandowski to attack (below), being Barcelona’s most frequent crosser (and fifth in La Liga, with 90 crosses after 22 matchdays).
Meanwhile, Yamal and Koundé had provided 27 key passes, as a pair, from the right side. Yamal’s dribbling and deft, last-second releases – or his outstanding outside-of-the-foot passes and crosses – created chances for Lewandowski. At the same time, Koundé was Barcelona’s third most frequent crosser (61) behind Raphinha and Yamal (62). He typically crosses from a slightly withdrawn position.
As well as the service he receives, Lewandowski’s prolific campaign has in no small part been down to his accuracy in front of goal. After 22 matchdays he had the sixth-highest percentage in La Liga for shots on target (49.21 per cent), having taken the fourth-most shots (63). At 36, the Pole maintains his ability to adjust inside the penalty area, scoring goals from open play and set-pieces, while still making well-timed runs to penetrate beyond. His ability to work purposeful efforts on goal from minimum touches has always been a standout attribute. Many of his goals under Flick have been first-time finishes, and almost never from more than two touches. As long as those around him continue creating chances, Lewandowski has shown he can thrive under Flick’s style.
Trusting youth
Barcelona’s recent string of head coaches have all committed to giving young players first-team debuts. Ronald Koeman introduced Pedri, Gavi and Balde to the senior side, while Xavi gave opportunities to Yamal, Cubarsí, Casadó, López and Héctor Fort. In his first season, Flick has made significant use of almost all of these players, with Gavi a notable absentee through injury.
As a result, Barcelona’s team has been the second-youngest by average age in the 2024/25 La Liga. Their youthful energy has helped the team to combine explosively, with many forward runs and progressive passes. Add to that aggressive pressing high up the pitch, including intense counter-pressing. Indeed, Barcelona had the second-lowest PPDA (7.67) after 22 games.
Given that Flick encourages his full-backs to advance, they tend to be available to press inwards should possession be lost in the middle third. There, Balde and Koundé provide additional pressing support, often on the blindside of the opponent’s wingers. The deeper midfielders – often Pedri and Casadó – aggressively move forward and look to cut off central passing lines into the opposing centre-forward, while also supporting the number 10 – Dani Olmo or López – in central duels. The front three narrow and help lock the ball into the midfield spaces (below).
After 22 matchdays, full-backs Koundé (340) and Balde (320) were both in the top three defensive duellers for Flick’s side, along with Pedri (273). Defensive midfielder Casadó (252) was next, followed by central defender Cubarsí (211). Aside from 26-year-old Koundé, none of those players were older than 22. The aggressive nature of this youthful contingent helps Barcelona regain the ball, and quickly. As well as their low PPDA, Flick’s side also ranked second for challenge intensity – a measurement of how often a team is actively trying to recover the ball when the opponent is in possession.
Penetration
Flick’s Barcelona have often looked to penetrate in behind if the space is available. Here, Lewandowski’s dropping has helped to disrupt the opposing centre-backs, allowing additional link-up between the lines, especially with the number 10. Should the centre-backs leave Lewandowski, he can receive freely and combine between the lines. Either way, penetrative runs beyond from wingers Yamal and Raphinha work to exploit spaces in behind the back line. As such, Barcelona had played by far the most through balls (218) in La Liga after 22 matchdays – nearly 100 more than the team third on the list.
Pedri’s passing range has been particularly influential, especially after a midfield regain. And when Barcelona are pressed inside their own half, he has been an excellent outlet in central midfield, where he receives across his body and opens up the opportunity to play forward. He often looks directly for winger movements beyond, bypassing the nine and 10. Indeed, his passing has helped Barcelona to play more direct football when necessary.
Should the midfielders be unavailable to receive and play forward – often due to aggressive player-oriented marking – then Barcelona have been capable of spinning balls in behind for the wingers to run on to. This penetrative mindset means that no matter what defensive strategy opponents employ, Barcelona have a potential answer. Koundé (below), Casadó and Íñigo Martínez have all played direct balls for Raphinha and Yamal, with Lewandowski on hand to link via flick-ons and secondary play.
Although most of Barcelona’s play has been against mid and low blocks, Flick’s versatile approach in possession has helped his side to score the most goals in La Liga so far during his tenure. Where this free-scoring takes his team, in the face of competition from Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid and Europe’s best sides, will be fascinating to watch as the 2024/25 season unfolds.
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