Barcelona’s coach, Hansi Flick, has emphasized that his team’s attention is solely on Real Madrid, rather than on the potential return of Kylian Mbappé for the upcoming Spanish Supercopa final in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
Mbappé, 27, missed Real Madrid’s semifinal victory over Atlético Madrid midweek due to a knee injury but has since traveled to Jeddah and may be available for the prestigious match.
This season, the French forward has netted 29 goals across all competitions and has scored six times in five Clásicos. However, Flick pointed out that Barcelona has often emerged victorious in those encounters.
“How many Clásicos have we played in the past year and a half?” Flick asked during a press conference when probed about how Mbappé’s speed could challenge his team’s defensive strategy. “We’ve played five, and we lost one. So, it’s about that. I recognize he’s an exceptional player, especially in open spaces, but we need to compete against one of the best teams in the world.”
He continued, “We will adapt as we always do. However, it’s not just about Mbappé; it’s about Madrid and our approach to the game. Our focus is on our philosophy and how we want to play.”
When pressed on Mbappé’s current form, Flick acknowledged, “At this moment, Mbappé is the best striker in the world. He has scored an impressive number of goals and is undoubtedly a world-class talent.”
Mbappé contributed to Madrid’s earlier 2-1 victory over Barcelona in LaLiga this season, which halted a streak of four consecutive Clásico wins for the Blaugrana under Flick. That match had propelled Madrid ahead of Barça at the top of the table by five points; however, since then, Barcelona has turned the tide and currently sits four points clear atop LaLiga, riding a nine-game winning streak.
Flick reflected on the team’s earlier Clásico defeat, stating, “It was just one game. We bounced back and have shifted our focus to what’s important. We are playing much better and more successfully now.”
“The team is very concentrated at this moment, and I’m pleased with our situation. We aim to perform at our highest level. I have a good feeling about my team, and tomorrow, we need to showcase our quality,” he added.
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Sunday marks the fourth consecutive Supercopa final between Barça and Madrid. Historically, this competition has been indicative of success in the latter half of the season, with the past four winners—Madrid (2022 and 2024) and Barça (2023 and 2025)—going on to claim LaLiga titles as well.
Barcelona triumphed in last year’s final with a score of 5-2 and arrives this year having secured nine consecutive victories without conceding a goal in their last five matches, fielding nearly a fully fit squad.
Aside from long-term absentees Gavi and Andreas Christensen, Flick confirmed that Lamine Yamal is ready to start after previously only being fit enough for the bench during the 5-0 semifinal win over Athletic Club.