The Hansi Flick Era Begins at Barcelona
The countdown to Saturday's La Liga debut for Barça has begun, with Hansi Flick's team taking on Valencia at Mestalla. The match kicks off at 9:30 PM CEST, marking the start of a new era for the Catalan giants under the guidance of the former Bayern Munich and Germany boss.
Flick is facing his first competitive fixture as Barcelona manager, and he knows that the task ahead won't be easy. Valencia, under Ruben Baraja, finished in midtable last season, a significant improvement from their relegation-threatened campaign the year prior. This has raised expectations for a higher finish this term for the club, which is accustomed to regular European qualification.
"It won't be an easy game given Valencia are a good team who play attacking football," said Flick in his pre-game press conference. "We are really looking forward to this first game, it will be special."
Injuries and Absences
Barcelona faces a challenging start to the season, with a major injury crisis already impacting their squad. Vice-captain Ronald Araujo, key midfielder Pedri, and Dutch star Frenkie de Jong are all sidelined, while big-summer signing Dani Olmo is also unlikely to be available for the Valencia game.
The absence of Olmo, a talented attacking midfielder who starred at the European Championships, will be a blow for Barcelona. "He's not an option for tomorrow as he has not trained much. First, he has to train to be able to help us," Flick stated.
There is some hope for Pedri's return, however. "He's a special player and he can change matches. He could be an option for the second half. He can help us a lot," Flick added.
Flick's Belief in His Squad
Despite the challenges, Flick remains confident in his squad. "I believe in this team. There is a great atmosphere and everyone knows what they have to do. We are a strong team with a quality in possession and without it. We are working continuously towards winning," he asserted.
Flick concluded his press conference with a statement of intent: "I hope we see a good show and we can win against Valencia."
How to Watch the Game
For fans in the US, all Spanish topflight games are available to stream via ESPN Plus, which has live English- and Spanish-language broadcast rights for La Liga. Select games will also be broadcast on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes, with this match set to be shown live on ABC.
Fans in Australia can tune in to BeIn Sports, which holds the live broadcast rights for Spanish topflight matches.
Valencia's Perspective
Valencia manager Ruben Baraja is also looking forward to the clash with Barcelona. "They are a great team and we are really looking forward to it. We are looking forward to going in with the energy it brings from us. But we need to be brave."
The match promises to be a captivating encounter, with both teams eager to start the season on a positive note. Will Barcelona overcome their injury problems and secure a winning start under Flick? Or will Valencia prove to be a tough test for the new era at Camp Nou?
Only time will tell.
Stay Tuned for Updates!
We'll be providing live updates and match coverage throughout the game. Stay tuned for all the latest news, analysis, and highlights as Barcelona and Valencia clash at the Mestalla.
