Racing Club captain sends Barcelona strong warning ahead of Camp Nou clash: ‘Our style can cause them problems’ | OneFootball

Racing Club captain Inigo Sainz-Maza believes Barcelona could be vulnerable to the way his side plays when the two teams meet, despite Hansi Flick’s team arriving in exceptional form.

Barcelona have made a remarkable start to the season and remain unbeaten at home across the last two campaigns. Racing, though, will not travel simply to contain the hosts.

Sainz-Maza accepts the scale of the challenge but insists his team have enough belief to make the contest uncomfortable for Barça.

“Absolutely. The first thing we need to do is prepare ourselves mentally for the fact that it’s a tough match at a very difficult ground, against an opponent in spectacular form. 

“We have got our own strengths; we faced them last year and it felt promising. 

Barcelona and Racing Club played in Copa del Rey last season. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

“We a’re going all out to try and win, or at least pick up a point. We’re mentally prepared to do just that,” he told SPORT.

Racing have already seen Barcelona’s threat

This will be Racing’s first league meeting with Barcelona in 14 years, although the sides crossed paths in the Copa del Rey only a few months ago.

That experience has given the visitors a clear idea of the punishment that can follow even the smallest lapse against Flick’s side.

“They are a team with real firepower; you can’t afford any lapses in concentration, because they will punish you at any moment.”

He explained that Racing are not planning to abandon their identity in an attempt to survive against Barcelona. 

Inigo Sainz-Maza knows what kind of challenge Barcelona pose. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

“If we play with intensity and stay focused throughout the match, we will have a chance. Our style of play can cause them problems. We can pick up a point or two.”

The Racing captain also knows that surviving the opening stages is only part of the challenge, as Barcelona’s depth proved decisive when the teams last met.

Asked which Barça players caught his eye, Sainz-Maza refused to single out one.

“All of them. In the second half, when Pedri, Fermín, Raphinha and Lewandowski came on from the bench, they turned the match around. We were already tired, so they really caused us problems,” he concluded.