Despite pre-seasons being the perfect breeding ground for overblown expectations, it is hard not to get excited after watching Barcelona’s first two performances under Hansi Flick.
Adhering to their tradition of handing Real Madrid a loss on US soil, Barça delivered a dominant display that overshadowed the vast difference in lineup quality.
Hansi Flick is known for preaching a philosophy that exploits space to the fullest. Barcelona’s performance showed that his ideas are being translated well in merely his second game on the hot seat.
Barça’s fluid movement off the ball and incisive runs created numerous scoring opportunities, while the team’s coordinated pressing disrupted Real Madrid’s rhythm effectively. Defending in compact blocks and maintaining close proximity allowed the Catalans to win the ball back regularly.
Most interestingly, Barça’s central combinations appear to have improved considerably. Unlike Xavi, who often directed play out wide, Flick favors central overloads—a style that suits Barcelona’s profiles perfectly.
Individually, the young players were once again a joy to watch. With Marc Bernal and Casado anchoring the midfield, there was ample duel-winning and a strong presence in the box—complementary profiles that meshed well.
However, the victory can largely be attributed to Pau Victor, who extended his scoring form and demonstrated why Barcelona are willing to bank on him over both Roque and Marc Guiu.
Despite playing as a secondary striker, his eye for goal did not fade, and he looked entirely in his element across all positions on the front line.
Yet, it would be unfair not to highlight the contributions of Alex Valle. The full-back provided two exquisite crosses for Pau Victor’s goals, ensuring they counted.
All in all, winning a Clasico is always satisfying, but the real highlight is the performance. The youngsters exceeded all expectations, competing admirably.
