Flick Surprises with Tactical Tweaks in Barça's Clash Against Real Betis
So here's the latest from Montjuïc — and it's quite an interesting one if you’re following Barça closely. With the pressure of chasing the LaLiga title and the looming Champions League quarterfinal against Dortmund, Hansi Flick has made a few bold moves with his lineup for tonight’s match against Real Betis.
Fresh off Real Madrid’s surprising slip-up against Valencia, losing 1-2, Barça has a golden opportunity to tighten their grip at the top of the table. Flick, ever the tactician, seems to have read the moment perfectly and has decided to give his “A-list” lineup a minor, yet notable refresh.
Three main changes jump out immediately. Ronald Araujo comes in for Iñigo Martínez, who’s out with a minor muscle injury. Gavi returns to the starting eleven, replacing Fermín. And perhaps the most eyebrow-raising switch — Lewandowski is back in the attack, while Raphinha starts on the bench. That’s right, the Brazilian winger is not in the initial lineup, which was definitely not on most fans' bingo cards tonight.
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The confirmed starting eleven: Szczesny in goal; Koundé and Balde as the full-backs; Cubarsí and Araujo pair up in central defense. Midfield sticks to the classic De Jong and Pedri duo, which has been Flick's go-to engine room recently. Ahead of them, we’ve got Lamine Yamal on the right, Gavi in the middle, Ferran Torres — who’s been showing good form — on the left, and Lewandowski leading the line.
What this means tactically is that Flick wants to balance freshness and continuity. He’s banking on that midfield chemistry and the sharpness of Ferran and Gavi to provide creativity and tempo. The inclusion of Lewandowski might be to stretch Betis' backline and capitalize on his physicality inside the box.
It’s also telling that with Casadó still sidelined, there’s no significant change in the midfield setup. Flick clearly trusts De Jong and Pedri to control the game. The defense, even with Iñigo out, still looks solid — Cubarsí continues to impress and having Araujo back adds steel and experience.
This is more than just a LaLiga fixture. It’s a statement game. Barça knows they’ve got a serious Champions League tie coming up, but they’re not taking Betis lightly either. Tonight’s lineup shows Flick is pushing for dominance while keeping one eye on Europe.
Let’s see if these tweaks deliver the result Barça needs — and whether Raphinha’s benching sparks a late-game impact. One thing's for sure: the title race just got more interesting.
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