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After a terrible end to 2024, Barcelona have started the new year on a positive note and can claim their first trophy of the farcical era this weekend.
Flick’s Barca head to the Middle East for the four-team Spanish Super Cup and are into Sunday’s final after beating Athletic Club 2-0 on Wednesday night.
La Blaugrana will take on a familiar foe in the showpiece event of the competition played earlier in the evening. Real Madrid Mallorca were beaten 3-0, but they will be well aware that they are fighting a Los Blancos side looking for revenge given what happened in the Spanish capital on October 26.
Flick’s squad is healthy for the 2025 kick-off, but their semi-final win is unlikely to prompt wholesale changes. The German may choose this team for Sunday’s final.
GK: Inaki Pena – Barcelona’s injury woes have eased, but number one Marc-Andre ter Stegen remains on the sidelines. Pena will get the nod once again.
RB: Jules Kounde – Madrid’s fluidity in attack means Kounde will see plenty of faces in his side on Sunday, but the Frenchman has the tools to fend off any superstar who tries to overwhelm him.
CB: Pou Qbarsi – Recent reports suggest that Flick is keen to defend himself around the teenager with him Captain Ronald Araujo is linked with the departure.
CB: Inigo Martinez – Araujo’s back injured, but Barcelona’s dominant centre-back duo will not be broken this weekend as they kept a clean sheet in Wednesday’s semi-final win.
LB: Alejandro Balde – The young left-back has struggled to replicate the heights of his breakout year – injuries haven’t helped in that regard – but Balde offered plenty of guile and attack against the Athletic club. He is comfortably Barca’s leading option in this position.
Chief Minister: Mark Casado – La Masia’s latest shining light has been superb this season and as a result Frankie de Jong could not be included in the squad. He will team up with his compatriot at the base of the midfield to contain Jude Bellingham and co.
Chief Minister: Padri – The football world is a better place when Pedri is injury free and performing at his peak. He and Casado establish a fun dynamic in Flick’s midfield pivot.
RM: Lamine Yamal – The teenager should be relatively fresh for Sunday’s final and netted Barca’s second on the hour against Athletic. Yamal dismantled Madrid in the October Clasico.
AM: Gavi – Flick rested Gavi after returning from a long-term knee injury and produced his best performance of the season in Wednesday’s semifinal in a more advanced role. With Dani Olmo absent. The elusive Spaniard should continue in the same role.
LM: Rafinha – The Brazilian has enjoyed a stellar scoring season, but was sorely wasted on Wednesday night. Flick will hope his stand-in skipper hasn’t left his scoring boots in 2024.
ST: Robert Lewandowski – Lewandowski He was also guilty of wasting chances against Athletic, but he tends to show in this match. Paul has scored ten goals in 16 games against Madrid, four of which memorably came during his Borussia Dortmund spell.
