Who will be on the Barcelona touchline against Real Madrid today after Hansi Flick ban?

In partnership with

Evening Standard

·26 October 2025

Who will be on the Barcelona touchline against Real Madrid today after Hansi Flick ban?

The German tactician will not be on the touchline at the Santiago Bernabeu this afternoon

Hansi Flick will have a different view when Barcelona are in action against Real Madrid today.

OneFootball Videos

The Blaugrana head to the Santiago Bernabeu aiming to replace their fierce rivals at the top of LaLiga, and go into the game in good form having beaten both Girona and Olympiacos at home over the past week.

That said, Los Blancos are not only desperate for a win to stretch their lead to five points, but to also avoid a fifth straight defeat against Barcelona in what will be Xabi Alonso’s first taste of an El Clasico in a managerial capacity.

While Barcelona did dominate these meetings last season, their hopes of repeating the 4-0 win in the corresponding fixture just under a year ago have been hit with first-choice goalkeeper Joan Garcia, Raphinha and prolific striker Robert Lewandowski all sidelined through injury.

Furthermore, their task will not be helped by not having their manager in the dugout.

Flick was sent-off for two yellow cards during Barca’s last-gasp win over Girona last weekend and must serve a touchline ban against Real Madrid after the club’s appeal was rejected earlier in the week.

The German tactician certainly had Carlo Ancelotti’s number in their head-to-head meetings last season, but will have to wait a bit longer to oppose Alonso in the dugout.

With Flick missing this afternoon, Barca’s coaching staff will instead be in charge at the Bernabeu.

Thiago Alcantara and Xabi Alonso during their playing days at Bayern Munich

AFP via Getty Images

There had been suggestions that Thiago Alcantara would lead the team, raising the prospect of a reunion with Alonso as the pair were previously team-mates at Bayern Munich and for the Spanish national team.

However, it will be Marcus Sorg - Flick’s assistant - taking charge after performing the pre-match media duties on Saturday.

Sorg will be helped by fellow assistant coaches Toni Tapalovic and Heiko Westermann. Jose Ramon De la Fuente is the goalkeeping coach with Flick's backroom staff completed by fitness coaches Julio Tous, Pepe Conde, Rafa Maldonado and German Fernandez.

Marcus Sorg takes charge of Barcelona in their El Clasico showdown against Real Madrid

AFP via Getty Images

Speaking ahead of the game, Sorg said: “It's an honour to be on the bench leading this team. It will be a tough match and I hope we can show our strengths.

“Flick will always be missed because he's one of the most important parts of the team. I think to have Flick on the sidelines, because the players trust him, he gives them confidence.

“His absence does have an influence. But Flick is in a good mood, positive, motivated."