Rabat – Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has made a slight adjustment to his team’s preparations following their 4-1 victory over Galatasaray in the Champions League, prioritizing player recovery ahead of a busy schedule that includes the Clasico against Real Madrid on October 25.
According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona spent Tuesday night in Istanbul after their convincing win in the second round of the Champions League league phase.
The Catalan side are scheduled to return to Barcelona early Wednesday afternoon to begin preparations for their upcoming domestic and European fixtures.
Flick had initially planned a training and recovery session at Galatasaray’s training facilities. But the German coach ultimately decided to cancel the session following the match, allowing his players more time to rest after the demanding encounter.
Instead, the squad limited its recovery work to gym exercises at the team hotel. Heavy rain that continued throughout the night in Istanbul further vindicated the decision to avoid an outdoor session.
Barcelona resume training ahead of Real Betis match
Barcelona are scheduled to return to training on Thursday morning as they prepare to face Real Betis in La Liga on Saturday, October 17.
The match will take place at La Cartuja Stadium, where Flick’s team will seek to maintain their unbeatable record this season, following their tenth victory out of ten matches played so far.
The squad will continue training on Sunday before travelling to Paris on Monday, October 19, ahead of their Champions League encounter against Paris Saint-Germain the following day.
The match against PSG, coached by Luis Enrique, will represent Barcelona’s third fixture in the league phase of the European competition.
Clasico remains a key priority for Flick
Barcelona’s demanding schedule will culminate in one of the season’s most anticipated fixtures which is the Clasico against Real Madrid on Sunday, October 25, at Camp Nou.
Flick reportedly wants his players to return from their European trip promptly, giving them sufficient time to recover from the long journey and prepare for the meeting with their historic rivals.
The decision to cancel the Istanbul training session reflects the importance of managing player fatigue during a period in which Barcelona faces consecutive domestic and European challenges.
With Real Betis, Paris Saint-Germain, and Real Madrid awaiting them, Flick will need to balance recovery and preparation as Barcelona enter a crucial stretch of their campaign.
