Barca revives its squad, Flick aims to dethrone Real.
Yamal, Raphinha, and Joan Garcia are ready to return, and Pedri could make a comeback after the international break. A run of three consecutive home games allows Hansi Flick to aim to close the gap with Real Madrid to three points in six rounds.
Hansi Flick has outlined a clear roadmap: capitalize on the team's recent resurgence to accelerate their progress, close the gap to 3 points within 6 rounds, and dethrone Real Madrid before the end of 2025. That window of opportunity opens as Barcelona are about to welcome back several key players and have a more favorable fixture list than their rivals.
Barcelona's squad is recovering: the pieces are back.
For months, Barcelona struggled to cope with a wave of injuries. Lamine Yamal needed treatment to overcome a persistent pain; Raphinha was out for nearly two months; goalkeeper Joan Garcia was sidelined while his replacement, Wojciech Szczesny, showed signs of age. Pedri's injury after El Clasico further pushed the team into a fight for survival.
The team therefore had to rely on the brilliant form of Fermin Lopez, the return of Frenkie de Jong, the assists of Marcus Rashford, and goals from Robert Lewandowski to maintain the winning momentum. Now, the picture is brighter: Flick believes he has Yamal, Raphinha, Joan Garcia, and Pedri available right after their international break. The first three could feature against Athletic Bilbao; Pedri could make his return in this match or at the latest in the away game against Chelsea in London.
The fixture list opens up opportunities for a breakthrough in La Liga.
The optimistic atmosphere at Camp Nou also stems from the fixture list. Barcelona have three consecutive home games (against Athletic, Alaves, and Atletico Madrid), while Real Madrid have three away games (against Elche, Girona, and Athletic). Although Atletico is a challenge, Barca's perfect home record this season is a major advantage.
Conversely, Xabi Alonso's team has shown weaknesses away from home, most notably in the 0-0 draw against Rayo Vallecano. If they maintain their points-scoring momentum at Camp Nou, Barca have a concrete opportunity to close and overcome the gap.
Flick's plan: close the gap to 3 points in 6 rounds.
Flick's goal is to finish 2025 at the top of La Liga. The immediate task is clearly quantified: close the gap to 3 points in 6 rounds. Given Real's heavy reliance on Kylian Mbappe, maintaining home form and capitalizing on favorable match rhythms is crucial.
Operationally, the return of Yamal and Raphinha restores the attacking options on the flanks, giving Barca more width and depth to rotate around Lewandowski. With Pedri available, the ability to control the tempo and link up the midfield is enhanced, easing the burden on Frenkie de Jong and opening up more options for Fermin Lopez.
Champions League: Stamford Bridge is a test of strength.
In the Champions League, Flick's approach is more cautious in the short term. Barcelona currently sit 11th, two points behind the direct qualification spots for the knockout rounds. The match at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea is an immediate measure of Barca's European competitiveness. A favorable result would allow them to enter the final three matches in a better position, especially with the home advantage against Eintracht Frankfurt and Copenhagen.
Key numbers
- Barcelona's three consecutive home games: Athletic, Alaves, Atletico Madrid.
- Real Madrid's last three away games: Elche, Girona, Athletic.
- The gap to be closed: 3 points in 6 rounds.
- Champions League: Barcelona are in 11th place, 2 points behind the automatic qualification spots for the knockout round.
- Real Madrid reveals weaknesses when playing away from home, having previously drawn 0-0 against Rayo Vallecano.
With a gradually full squad and a favorable rhythm of play, Flick's plan is on track. The remaining answer lies in his ability to capitalize on home advantage and translate those comebacks into concrete points in each round.
