To win big trophies, teams need to win even when they aren`t playing their best. Barcelona showed this ability by defeating Celta Vigo 4-3 on Saturday. After falling behind 3-1 by the 62nd minute, goals from Raphinha and Dani Olmo helped Hansi Flick`s team turn the game around and secure a victory.
It`s been an emotionally charged week for Barcelona, having just advanced to the Champions League semifinals after beating Borussia Dortmund. However, the games keep coming quickly. Flick has expressed concern about the packed schedule, noting that other leagues protect their Champions League teams with rest, while Barcelona doesn`t have that luxury. In April alone, Barcelona still has three important matches: a league game against Mallorca, the Copa Del Rey final against Real Madrid, and the first leg of the Champions League semifinal against Inter Milan later in the month.
Barcelona can`t afford to heavily rotate their squad in these high-stakes games. This match against Celta Vigo demonstrated why. Flick initially rested players like Lamine Yamal and Gavi, which resulted in Borja Iglesias scoring a hat trick and putting Barcelona in a difficult position.
However, the introduction of Yamal and Olmo quickly changed the game. Olmo scored just five minutes after coming on, and Yamal then assisted Raphinha`s goal four minutes later. Barcelona`s attack regained its potency. Ultimately, Raphinha scored a penalty in the eighth minute of added time to secure the win for Barcelona.
This season has been remarkable for the Brazilian player, Raphinha, who now has 28 goals and 20 assists for Barcelona in all competitions. He`s a strong contender for the Ballon d`Or and is leading Barcelona`s push in La Liga, where they now have a seven-point lead over Real Madrid for the moment.
There was some concern for Barcelona as Robert Lewandowski was substituted due to muscle discomfort. He will be evaluated, but with so many upcoming games, Barcelona needs Lewandowski to avoid a lengthy absence. The Polish striker has been in excellent form, scoring 40 goals and providing 3 assists this season, his best performance since the 2021-22 season with Bayern Munich. Lewandowski`s presence is key to Flick`s attacking strategy, making Barcelona a threat to any team, and contributing to their treble aspirations.
The next major challenge is El Clasico against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final on April 26th. If Lewandowski is unavailable, it would be a significant blow. Real Madrid has been inconsistent recently, including a Champions League defeat to Arsenal, but in rivalry games, current form is less important, especially with a trophy at stake.
Flick`s tactical decisions have been effective this season, but he needs to maintain this as Barcelona can`t afford any slip-ups in their upcoming matches. Winning a treble is always difficult, and with increasing fixture congestion, it becomes even more challenging. Barcelona has set their sights on this goal, and the next step is against Real Madrid.
