Hansi Flick hopes to have Raphinha back for Real Madrid clash | OneFootball

Despite the important commitment against Olympiacos this Tuesday for the Champions League, Barcelona is already thinking about the match against Real Madrid next Sunday for the Spanish Championship. Injured since the end of September, Raphinha might strengthen the Catalan team for the classic, according to coach Hansi Flick. Ferran Torres is also expected to return.

“We hope that Raphinha and Ferran can play in the classic. When Ferran returned from the Spanish national team, we saw a different situation and we want to minimize the risks, and playing tomorrow is a risk,” he said.

This will be the first encounter between Barcelona and Real Madrid this season and it’s for the lead in the Spanish Championship. The capital team leads with 24 points, while the Catalans follow closely in the table with 22 points.

Regarding the Champions match, the German coach praised the Greek team and emphasized that it will not be an easy game. Flick also recalled Olympiacos' good performance when they faced Arsenal, despite the defeat to the English team.

“They are strong offensively. For me, and the statistics also confirm this, they are one of the best teams we will face. Against Arsenal, they had several opportunities to score, so we have to be alert. They have a clear game plan and it will be very difficult,” he analyzed.

Finally, the coach expressed his affection for Barcelona and justified his expulsion against Girona last Saturday.

“It's true that I show my emotions more now than before. This club has changed me. Maybe I should control my impulses, but I love Barça, Barcelona, and the fans, so I give my all for this team,” he concluded.

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.