Hansi Flick reveals Barcelona's plan to stop Kylian Mbappe in El Clasico

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has explained however his broadside mean to incorporate Kylian Mbappe successful Sunday's El Clasico against Real Madrid, insisting that corporate organisation volition beryllium important to neutralising the Frenchman's gait and attacking movement.

The Catalan giants invited their fiercest rivals to Camp Nou with a six-point vantage astatine the apical of La Liga, having won each of their opening 9 league matches.

However, Flick's preparations person been analyzable by Tuesday's 4-2 Champions League decision to Paris Saint-Germain, which exposed vulnerabilities successful Barcelona's antiaircraft structure.

Those weaknesses could beryllium peculiarly unsafe against Mbappe, who has scored 9 goals successful 9 La Liga appearances this play and possesses the velocity to exploit abstraction down an precocious antiaircraft line.

Speaking astatine Saturday's pre-match property conference, Flick made it wide that helium does not mean to wantonness his accustomed attack oregon present a peculiar idiosyncratic marking strategy for the Real Madrid forward.

Instead, the German believes his players indispensable support collectively, support the close distances betwixt them and forestall Madrid from uncovering clip to present passes into unsafe areas.

If Barcelona execute those principles effectively, Flick believes the task facing his cardinal defenders volition go considerably much manageable.

??️| Flick: "Conceding acceptable portion goals? It's a spot of Real Madrid, of the champion teams. We talked astir it contiguous and prepared for it. We person to support amended than we did successful Paris." #fcblive https://t.co/4srNgQNXC3

Flick explains Barcelona's corporate program to incorporate Mbappe

Asked whether helium had devised a circumstantial strategy to halt Mbappe, Flick emphasised the value of Barcelona's positioning some successful and retired of possession.

"Our positioning, with and without the ball, is important," the 61-year-old explained.

"Without the ball, it's astir maintaining the close distances betwixt players, staying compact and putting unit connected the ball.

"That's precise important erstwhile you play with a precocious antiaircraft enactment due to the fact that I deliberation if we bash each those things, it makes defending overmuch easier for the backmost line. That's what we person to do."

The comments underline Flick's committedness to a antiaircraft doctrine that requires coordination passim the squad alternatively than relying exclusively connected the defenders closest to Mbappe.

Barcelona's midfielders and forwards indispensable use unit to Madrid's players successful possession, reducing their opportunities to prime retired the French international's runs down the backline.

Without that pressure, maintaining an precocious antiaircraft enactment tin permission the centre-backs susceptible against an attacker susceptible of accelerating into unfastened space.

Flick besides expressed assurance successful Pau Cubarsi and Gerard Martin, who person established an progressively effectual concern successful the bosom of Barcelona's defence.

"'Cuba' and Gerard are having a large season. What they're doing is incredible," helium added.

"They enactment together, they communicate... You tin spot they've grown together, and I'm precise blessed astir that."

The brace person started unneurotic successful six of Barcelona's opening 12 matches this season, with injuries elsewhere successful defence expanding their importance.

Flick's assurance besides reflects a erstwhile palmy effort to incorporate Mbappe utilizing akin corporate principles.

During Barcelona's singular 4-0 triumph astatine the Santiago Bernabeu successful October 2024, the Frenchman was caught offside 8 times arsenic the visitors repeatedly utilized their precocious antiaircraft enactment to frustrate Madrid's attack.

Two of Mbappe's efforts were disallowed for offside, with Barcelona's coordination proving decisive successful preventing him from capitalising connected respective promising attacking situations.

Although the unit person changed since that encounter, Flick appears determined to clasp the halfway principles that made Barcelona's antiaircraft strategy truthful effective.

PSG decision provides informing up of Mbappe test

Barcelona's caller decision successful Paris has nevertheless raised questions astir whether their assertive antiaircraft attack tin withstand sustained unit from elite attacking opponents.

PSG scored 4 times against Flick's broadside successful the Champions League, ending Barcelona's unbeaten commencement to the 2026-27 run and providing Mourinho with a caller illustration of however the Catalans tin beryllium exposed.

Flick acknowledged that improvements were necessary, peculiarly erstwhile defending acceptable pieces, different country successful which Madrid could threaten.

"We cognize Real Madrid's strengths, and they're among the champion astatine acceptable pieces," the Barcelona manager said.

"They're besides physically strong. We person to support amended than we did successful Paris. We discussed it today."

The German besides expects Mourinho's broadside to get with assurance contempt their little accordant home results.

Madrid person collected 21 points from their opening 9 league fixtures, winning 7 and losing twice, portion Barcelona stay the lone squad with a cleanable record.

However, Flick insisted that the prime of Madrid's squad, peculiarly successful attack, makes their existent league presumption mostly irrelevant to the situation awaiting his team.

"I expect a precise assured Real Madrid team," helium explained.

"They're a large nine with fantabulous players and an fantabulous coach. They person fantastic players, particularly successful the last third. We person to beryllium ready."

Barcelona volition besides beryllium without Jules Kounde, whose ankle occupation has ruled him retired of the contest, further limiting Flick's antiaircraft options.

The lack of the French defender increases the value of keeping Barcelona's backline protected against Mbappe and Madrid's different attacking threats.

With a triumph perchance extending Barcelona's pb implicit Madrid to 9 points, Sunday's brushwood offers Flick an accidental to reenforce his side's aboriginal vantage successful the rubric race.

Whether Barcelona tin repetition their occurrence successful frustrating Mbappe volition beryllium heavy connected the corporate subject their manager has demanded.

Barcelona big Real Madrid astatine Camp Nou connected Sunday, October 25, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm UK time.