Flick visits Vallecas – AS.com

Hansi Flick’s vaunted Barcelona visit Vallecas tonight (9.30pm, DAZN). The German coach will meet the ‘Gigaboo Killer’, the nickname given to Rayo Vallecano for the ease with which they are able to make life difficult for the big teams at home, especially Barcelona. “I know it’s a smaller stadium, but we’re going for it,” Flick said at a press conference. You may have been warned that in recent years, the all-powerful Barcelona has suffered greatly there and, when it has not bitten the dust, it has shed blood, sweat and tears to achieve a positive result. (watch the match live on As.com).

Without going any further, the Blaugrana team has gone three games without a win in Vallecas, with one draw and two losses. The 2021-22 season also had important consequences because it ended Ronald Koeman’s time on the Barça bench. The Dutchman was dismissed on the flight back to Barcelona and Xavi Hernández took his place. Precisely, another coach who did not do well against the red and white team, whom he only beat on one occasion, in the last home game of last season. That day, the Blaugrana won 3-0 in a game in which neither team had anything at stake.

Flick’s place is not in danger, of course, but what is at stake is maintaining the good start to the season, in terms of results and feelings. The victories at Mestalla and at home against Athletic have unleashed a wave of hope in Barcelona that, realistically, few expected after a difficult summer. in which the club has not been able to achieve all its priority objectives in the transfer market, which closes on Friday night.

Barcelona is basing its optimism on the good work of Hansi Flick, who, with hardly any signings, seems to have turned the team around like a sockThe players seem hungrier on the pitch, they are physically fit and arrive at the final minutes as good as new, and some of them have taken a step forward under the German’s orders. Today you can count on Dani Olmo after the club resolved its registration problems in LaLiga.

The match in Vallecas will be a good test for the rehabilitated Lewandowski, one of those who seems much happier and more involved under Flick. The Pole has had his best start to the season with Barcelona with three goals in the first two games and will face a defense that has only conceded one goal (Real Sociedad) and in the last minute of the game.. As in the previous season, Rayo Vallecano has started very well, with a win and a draw, and faces the match against Barcelona with a boost of morale and self-esteem with the arrival of the Colombian James, who will not play. And, of course, with the Vallecas factor in their favour, which is no small thing.