Hansi Flick downplayed Barcelona‘s impressive 11-game winning streak, calling it “nothing”. The team secured a 2-0 victory over Racing Santander on Thursday, advancing to the Copa del Rey quarterfinals.
Goals in the second half from Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal ensured that the defending champions Barça avoided the same fate as Real Madrid, who faced a shocking defeat to Albacete the day before.
This victory also marked Barça’s 11th consecutive win across all competitions, making it the joint second longest streak in the club’s history, just shy of the 18-game run in the 2005-06 season under Frank Rijkaard.
“This is nothing,” Flick commented on the streak. “[I do not focus on] statistics. I’m pleased with our win today, for ourselves, the club, and the fans. Our advancement to the next round is what matters most.”
Since their last loss to Chelsea in November, Barça has built a four-point lead atop LaLiga, clinched the Spanish Supercopa by defeating Madrid 3-2 in last weekend’s final, and continued to excel in the Copa.
However, they faced a tough challenge from Racing, the leaders of La Segunda División, who came close to equalizing, only to be thwarted by goalkeeper Joan García moments before Yamal sealed the game in added time.
Teenage forward Manex Lozano broke past Barça’s defense, but instead of passing, he attempted to score himself, only to be denied by García, who has been consistently brilliant this season.
“I anticipated this would be a challenging match,” Flick stated. “It was essential for us to maintain a clean sheet. The significant chance they had to equalize just moments before our second goal was crucial to save.”
“Thanks to Joan, it was an outstanding save. It was a significant opportunity for them, but he performed excellently, and ultimately, I’m glad we advanced.”
Barça made six changes from the squad that triumphed over Madrid last weekend, yet fielded a strong team in Santander, featuring Torres, Marcus Rashford, and Dani Olmo among the starters.
Raphinha, Pedri, Robert Lewandowski, and Fermín López all came off the bench to help secure the win, ensuring no risks were taken after witnessing Madrid’s unexpected defeat a day prior.
Flick commended his players for their determination in securing the win and avoiding an upset.
“For Racing, this was perhaps the biggest match they’ve had in recent years,” he noted. “It was also significant for us. We aimed to win after our Supercopa victory. Success in these games isn’t guaranteed by reputation but by attitude. That’s what I appreciated about our team.”
“We played seriously, with the right mindset and mentality, but Racing performed very well. They are a strong team. I wish them all the best this season; perhaps we’ll see them again in LaLiga next year.”