Flick’s Barça set for third Champions tilt, Feyenoord first up | OneFootball

Barça’s European run has dipped from semi-finals to quarter-finals, yet Flick’s side enter this Champions League buoyed by four league wins, 17 scored and two conceded. Fans feel better equipped than ever. June 2027 will mark 12 years, minus a day, since Berlin.

The path to a Madrid final at the Metropolitano begins against Feyenoord at 18.45. According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, they have met only once, in 1974, a 0-0 in Rotterdam then 3-0 at Camp Nou. Feyenoord were the first Dutch European champions in 1970.

Lamine Yamal fielded questions on Ballon d’Or nominations, being fifth captain at 19, and his mood. He said he had never felt happier and blamed Elche touchline anger on fatigue in 40-degree heat.

Flick calls the Champions League the most important prize, while saying a third straight Liga ahead of Real Madrid would be special. Each of Barça’s five triumphs came with a domestic double in 1992, 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2015.

Lamine Yamal added that the Champions League is the only trophy he still has to win, a shared motivation for many Spain internationals. Arrivals Adeyemi, Gordon, Rodrigo, Cancelo and Gabriel Jesús, plus Livakovic, Bisiwu and Abdelkarim, lift quality. Only Rodrigo has already won it.

Flick said the squad have the quality to win it, but stressed the road is long. He is unconcerned that Anthony Gordon has yet to score, pointing to chances and assists, and expects the goals to arrive.

Barça are without Eric Garcia, suspended and injured after a fractured nose, and Frenkie de Jong. Garcia has been training in a protective mask.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo

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