Hansi Flick's plan to cancel Xavi's Barça 'nightmare'

Hansi Flick will have his first highly difficult match next Sunday against Girona. Although Míchel's team remained undefeated on matchday 2 with a hard fall at the Metropolitano against Atlético (3-0), they recovered from a weak start in LaLiga by beating Osasuna at home (4-0) and with a comfortable victory against Sevilla (0-2) just before the break. For FC Barcelona, ​​facing their neighbors is an important challenge, since the 'albirrojos' were a real nightmare last season.

In that sense, the German coach is clear about the plan to execute in Montilivi to nullify a team that, despite the losses, maintains a very dangerous offense. In four games, Girona has scored 7 goals and conceded 4. For Barça, the key is to maintain the high pressure that has given such good results in their last presentations and, in addition, maintain a compact block between the lines to avoid complications with the quick exit and long balls that characterize their rival.

For now, Bryan Gil and Abel Ruiz have carried the offensive burden to cover the losses of Savinho (Manchester City) and Artem Dovbyk (Roma), but Flick trusts in the culé's defensive solidity. Both Jules Koundé and Pau Cubarsí have been imperial at the back, while Iñigo Martínez and Alejandro Balde have also shown a high level at the start of the season, leaving aside the ghosts of the previous year.

Girona ended up sentencing Xavi Hernández in 2023/24

For Barça, the two defeats against Girona in 2023/24 (both 4-2) had a significant impact that ended up dooming Xavi Hernández. The first loss against the 'albirrojos' came on December 10 in Montjuïc, a defeat that ruined the good image that the culés had left a week before against Atlético, also at home. Míchel's men exposed the fragility of the Barça defense and, in a duel of touch and take, they prevailed with authority based on punching.

In the final stretch of the season, with nothing more than prestige at stake, Barça was once again shipwrecked against Míchel's men, this time in Montilivi on May 5. The culés went into the break with a lead (2-1), but conceded three goals in 12 fateful minutes of the second half that ended up convincing Joan Laporta to put an end to the Xavi era. The defeat cost the Egarense his job and, now, Hansi Flick has his first great opportunity to confirm the board's success with his hiring.