The Spanish Supercopa final is upon us, and the focus is intense! Barcelona's coach, Hansi Flick, is making it crystal clear: the team's sights are set firmly on Real Madrid, not the potential return of superstar Kylian Mbappé. This is a bold statement, especially considering Mbappé's reputation!
Mbappé, who has been sidelined with a knee injury, is now in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, raising the possibility of his participation in the final. With 29 goals this season, and a knack for scoring in El Clásico matches (he's netted 6 times in 5 previous encounters), his presence could be a game-changer.
But here's where it gets controversial... Flick seems unfazed. When asked about how his team's high defensive line might cope with Mbappé, Flick responded with a cool assessment. He highlighted the fact that in the last one-and-a-half years, Barcelona has played five Clásicos, losing only one. He acknowledged Mbappé's talent but emphasized that the team's focus is on facing one of the world's best teams, Real Madrid, and sticking to their own game plan.
Flick didn't shy away from praising Mbappé, calling him the best striker in the world right now. He also mentioned Mbappé's goal in the recent LaLiga match where Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-1, ending a streak of four consecutive Clásico wins for the Blaugrana under Flick.
Interestingly, that loss put Real Madrid five points ahead of Barcelona in the league. However, a significant nine-point swing has occurred since then, with Barcelona now leading LaLiga by four points and riding a nine-game winning streak. Flick views the earlier defeat as just one game, emphasizing the team's comeback and improved performance.
The upcoming final marks the fourth consecutive time Barcelona and Real Madrid have met at this stage. The Supercopa has often served as a predictor for the rest of the season, with the last four winners – Real Madrid (2022 and 2024) and Barcelona (2023 and 2025) – also winning LaLiga.
Barcelona won last year's final 5-2 and enters this year's match with a strong winning streak and a nearly fully fit squad. The only confirmed absences are Gavi and Andreas Christensen. Lamine Yamal is ready to start after recovering from injury.
What do you think? Will Mbappé's potential return swing the balance, or is Flick right to focus on the bigger picture? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
