Flick's no-nonsense Cup approach pays dividends as Barça march on
While Real Madrid crash out of the Copa del Rey, Barcelona's serious approach under Hansi Flick sees them safely through to the quarter-finals.
Barcelona advance to the Copa del Rey quarter-finals while their arch-rivals Real Madrid have packed their bags and gone home. The difference? Flick ain’t messing about when it comes to cup competitions.
Full strength from the off
The German gaffer’s approach to the Copa has been crystal clear - he’s taking this competition proper seriously. While some managers might use these early rounds to give the youngsters a run-out, Flick went to Santander with all his big guns loaded.
This wasn’t the first time either. Against Guadalajara in the previous round, Barcelona fielded a strong XI, and they followed the same blueprint at El Sardinero. By the final whistle, Flick had practically the same team on the pitch that started the Supercopa final against Madrid.
Once bitten, twice shy
Flick’s learned his lesson the hard way. His first defeat as Barcelona boss came in Pamplona when he rotated heavily and ended up on the wrong side of a four-goal hammering. Since that wake-up call, he’s been treading carefully.
While La Liga provides some margin for error, knockout tournaments offer no second chances - one slip and you’re brown bread. Flick clearly understands this, leaving nothing to chance in Santander.
Notable moments from the match
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Captain Ferran: Torres wore the armband for the first time in the absence of the usual captains. A nice touch for a player enjoying an excellent season as a reliable alternative to Lewandowski. He celebrated with the opening goal.
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Fermín’s impact: The youngster came on in the 58th minute and seven minutes later provided a perfect assist for Ferran’s goal. The lad’s been absolutely mustard this season - seemingly contributing a goal or assist in every appearance.
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Ezkieta’s heroics: Racing’s goalkeeper was in the form of his life, making several top-drawer saves. One stop from Lewandowski was so good even the Polish striker couldn’t believe it. Without him, Racing would have been on the end of a proper hiding.
Ter Stegen’s situation
Interestingly, Flick’s selection sends a clear message to Marc-André ter Stegen. The German keeper played in the first Copa round against Guadalajara, but was benched at El Sardinero. The writing’s on the wall - if he wants game time before the World Cup, he might need to consider his options elsewhere.