"There are two more parts to go": Flick's reasons for believing in a comeback

MadridThe last time Barça conceded 4-0 in the first leg of a tie, they ended up celebrating a historic qualification. On March 8, 2017, Sergi Roberto's goal in the final minute of stoppage time put them ahead. 6 to 1 on the Camp Nou scoreboard and eliminated a Paris Saint-Germain side that had come to Barcelona convinced they had already done the job. An unforgettable precedent that the Blaugrana now look to for inspiration, as they will have to overcome a four-goal deficit against Atlético de Madrid in three weeks if they want to reach the Copa del Rey final.

There are many parallels between that first leg in Paris and the first leg at the MetropolitanoBesides the scoreline, there was a feeling that Barça had played far below their potential and that their opponent had played a flawless match where everything went their way. There are also three weeks between the first and second legs, time to train, understand the reasons for the defeat, recover, and find solutions. Added to this is the fact that Barça had two very significant absences who, in principle, will be available for the return leg. "It's difficult, but we're going to fight. We have two more halves. We have to win each one 2-0," said Hansi Flick, the Barça coach.

Diego Simeone, the Atlético Madrid coach, celebrated his team's four goals with as much euphoria as he displayed caution in the press conference. "It's clear the tie isn't over," he repeated three times. And while euphoric Atlético fans were buying too many flights for the Seville final—prices doubled in just half an hour—Simeone urged caution and emphasized Barcelona's "absences," which he attributed to a significant percentage of the 4-0 scoreline.

He was referring to Pedri and Raphinha, two key players in Flick's system. Absent due to injury at the Metropolitano, they should be available for the return leg, scheduled for March 3rd. The midfielder from Tegueste is a key piece in building Barça's attacking play, while the Brazilian winger is the engine that dictates the line in the first line of pressure, crucial for disrupting opponents' build-up play, who often resort to long balls exploiting Barça's high defensive line. Flick will have two weeks free, without a Wednesday match, to organize the team.

Getting injured players back is just one part of the coach's roadmap for a difficult but not impossible comeback. It will also be important for Flick to solidify the defense and find solutions to prevent Balde from being overwhelmed in one-on-one situations again, or to stop opponents from quickly reaching the penalty area with a player unmarked for a shot. That's why the next two weeks will be crucial, as Barça won't have a Wednesday match and can focus on this. more attention to tactics and physical trainingAnother aspect in which Atlético dominated Barça at the Metropolitano. The Colchoneros, on the other hand, will be busy playing in the Champions League playoffs.

"We don't need four goals, we need six," said Luis Enrique, then Barça's coach, in 2017. He was referring to the risks Barça would have to take in their dream of a comeback: it would leave their defense very exposed, and it was predictable that sooner or later PSG would take advantage, as they did. The difference is that back then, away goals counted double. Now, however, this rule is a thing of the past. With a hypothetical 4-0, 5-1, or 6-2 scoreline, the match would go to extra time.

Simeone, a coach who doesn't manage leads well

A joyful Atlético de Madrid is not expected in the second leg. If there's one thing that has characterized Simeone, it's that the Colchonero coach often struggles to manage leads and opts for an ultra-defensive approach instead of continuing to attack. This happened on Thursday, in the second half, when he ceded the initiative to Barça. Pedri's magic in threading passes, Raphinha's voraciousness on the left, and Lamine Yamal's inspiration starting from the right will be key to creating scoring opportunities against a defense that is expected to be completely packed in the box. Lewandowski or Ferran, as the main attacking threat, will have to be involved in every shot, and Fermín or Olmo will be the alternative with long-range shooting.

The refereeing controversy influenced the scoreline, and Barça reacted furiously to Cubarsí's disallowed goal for offside. It took seven minutes to reviewThe club, which has already protested to the Federation, knows its complaints won't change the result of the first leg but is confident they will influence the return leg: the main objective is for the referee to be less lenient with Atlético Madrid's physical play. It will likely be the first match with 62,000 spectators at the new Camp Nou, which is expected to receive its Category 1c license in the coming days. It could also be the first magical night at the remodeled stadium. Flick has asked for the fans' support, and the players promise a fight. No one denies that it will be extremely difficult. But everyone remembers that Barça already proved it's possible a few years ago.