Flick calls for focus ahead of crucial Atletico clash

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has warned his players they must remain focused to avoid repeating past mistakes when they face Atletico Madrid in a pivotal La Liga match on Sunday.

With Barcelona sitting just one point ahead of Atletico, who are in third place, the title clash at the Metropolitano Stadium promises to be a crucial encounter.

Barcelona led in their first league meeting with Atletico in December, but a late equaliser from Rodrigo De Paul and a 96th-minute winner from Alexander Sorloth saw the Catalans lose the lead atop the table. The teams also met in the Copa del Rey semi-final, where Barcelona conceded two early goals and another late in a 4-4 draw that included a dramatic Sorloth stoppage-time strike.

"We've had two great matches against Atletico, but we must stay focused from start to finish," Flick said on Saturday. "In both matches, we lost concentration at critical moments, and we cannot afford that again. Atletico can punish mistakes, and we must defend against that."

While Atletico were eliminated from the Champions League in midweek by Real Madrid in a penalty shoot-out, Barcelona advanced to the quarter-finals with a victory over Benfica.

Flick sympathised with Atletico's Julian Alvarez, whose penalty was controversially disallowed after a slip, but insisted that Atletico's squad depth would help them recover from the 120-minute exertions.

"It was an unfortunate situation for Alvarez, and I feel for him, as he's one of the best," said Flick. "But Atletico's squad is deep enough to cope with the fatigue."

Atletico manager Diego Simeone, however, was visibly frustrated by the penalty decision, describing the situation as "anger, rage, and injustice."

Flick, meanwhile, is enjoying a wealth of options in attack, with Dani Olmo seemingly ahead of Gavi in the pecking order. Gavi and Barcelona defender Alejandro Balde were excluded from the Spain squad for their upcoming Nations League quarter-final against the Netherlands, but Flick praised both players' contributions to the team.

"Gavi's recovery from a significant injury has been impressive. He's only 20, and while he's not yet a first choice, he's doing great," Flick said. "He'll be a key player for Barcelona in the years to come, and I have no doubt he'll be in the 2026 World Cup squad."

Flick also heaped praise on Balde, calling him "one of the best left-backs in the world" and spoke highly of veteran centre-back Inigo Martinez, who was named in Spain's squad for the Nations League.

"With his mentality and attitude, Martinez is an incredible asset to any team," said Flick.