Welcome to the latest model of Inside Barcelona, our weekly assortment to adjust to all by way of the 2025-26 La Liga season.
Every week, we’ll carry you knowledge and analysis on an important talking elements, chopping by way of the noisy world of all points Barca with reporting chances are you’ll perception.
What’s an important talking stage at Barcelona correct now?
Barca are good as soon as extra!
OK, let’s not get ahead of ourselves, nevertheless Hansi Flick’s workforce look quite a bit improved from the workforce that struggled initially of the season.
Two weeks prior to now, after they misplaced to Chelsea throughout the Champions League following a disappointing effectivity, Flick said he was feeling optimistic about his facet and that some progress was being made. The German’s phrases left many throughout the native media staggered on the shortage of criticism within the course of poor reveals. Since then, nonetheless, Barca have cherished their biggest two weeks of the season so far.
They outplayed Precise Betis in Seville on Saturday, worthwhile 5-3. The game was efficiently completed and dusted sooner than half-time, when Barca went 4-1 up due to a hat-trick from Ferran Torres and a stunning effort from vibrant spark Roony Bardghji. Lamine Yamal added the fifth from the penalty spot throughout the second half, sooner than the hosts purchased two targets once more late on.
Ferran Torres scored a hat-trick in opposition to Betis (Jose Luis Contreras/NurPhoto by way of Getty Footage)
Barcelona appeared dominant as quickly as as soon as extra after per week by which moreover they beat Atletico Madrid on the Camp Nou. The extreme press was environment friendly, left-back Gerard Martin impressed as quickly as additional at centre-back, and Pedri proved he has returned like certainly not sooner than, putting in a efficient effectivity.
Nevertheless the win took on even higher significance when Precise Madrid dropped three additional elements of their shock defeat to Celta Vigo on Sunday night. Which suggests Barca are literally 4 elements clear on the excessive of La Liga, when 5 video video games prior to now they accomplished El Clasico on the Bernabeu 5 elements behind their fierce rivals from the Spanish capital.
Atletico Madrid misplaced flooring on them, too, as they’ve been defeated by Athletic Membership in Bilbao. Villarreal have been the one completely different workforce in Spain’s excessive 4 to win this weekend.
What else did we research from Saturday’s sport?
This was one different assertion effectivity from Yamal. Flick used the 18-year-old in a model new place — at No 10 — and it labored. He was involved throughout the build-up for the first and third targets in opposition to Betis, scored the fifth, and was unstoppable throughout the No 10 place — as we talked about in this piece proper right here.
Roony was one different massive winner after the Betis sport. The Sweden worldwide was the shock establish in Flick’s line-up and repaid his perception with a really perfect present from the suitable. The 20-year-old staked his declare for a additional necessary place as part of Barca’s rotation avid gamers with a function and an assist.
Within the meantime, the Martin experiment at centre-back continued to work properly. Using the 23-year-old in that place is not solely a properly timed decision, they can not afford to drop him. The graduate from La Masia is disciplined in conserving the extreme line, reveals a really perfect understanding with Pau Cubarsi, and provides Barca with a great deal of choices in setting up attacking play.
A meme that did the rounds on Barca social media plenty of weeks prior to now often called him Gerard Maldini. Martin suggested membership media that his team-mates have been using that nickname for him too. Far-fetched? Possibly. Nevertheless these jokes will not stop anytime rapidly if he retains this up.
“It’s a spot I tried out in pre-season, and I actually really feel comfortable there,” Martin suggested a press conference on Monday sooner than Barcelona’s Champions League meeting with Eintracht Frankfurt. “I don’t have a alternative, I’m efficient there. I’ll play wherever the supervisor tells me to.
“I had already carried out there for a 12 months or two, nevertheless in a once more 5. Points are comparable. One important issue is the ball movement resulting from how we play.”
Martin was moreover requested whether or not or not he had appeared as a lot as Inigo Martinez, who left for Saudi Skilled League facet Al Nassr within the summertime after two seasons in Barca’s defence.
“He was a really perfect chief,” Martin said. “By means of video and analysis, I’ve appeared as a lot as him to boost.”
What is the latest on Barcelona signings?
On Wednesday, sporting director Deco gave an interview to native radio station Cadena Ser, the place he said he was not keen on bolstering the squad in January.
“It’s very powerful to hunt out avid gamers who improve the squad in January,” he said. “We have got worthwhile examples throughout the membership, such as a result of the signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (from Arsenal in February 2022). Nevertheless that was a selected case, with Aubameyang being in battle with Arsenal, and we purchased an excellent deal. Now, I don’t see any situations like that.”
The feeling contained within the membership is that Ronald Araujo’s unknown return date and his indefinite depart are the one parts that may most likely change Barcelona’s technique throughout the coming swap window within the occasion that they decide in order so as to add a model new defender. We’ll see what happens.
A day later, president Joan Laporta spoke to newspaper La Vanguardia at one different event, backing up Deco’s perspective on the January window, nevertheless together with “Barca are in a position to spend cash on a large signing”.
And finally, on Friday, the membership organised their typical Christmas dinner, with all native reporters invited. All through these informal conferences, the membership’s most senior figures are often present and keep courtroom with the journalists in attendance, responding to their questions on scenario of anonymity.
Senior membership sources have been requested about future signings, with Julian Alvarez’s establish growing. Barca admitted they see it as very powerful to enter negotiations with Atletico Madrid and attain a attainable settlement for the 25-year-old Argentina striker. They estimate the value of any deal at close to €200million. At that worth, Barca sources say a deal will not happen.
These voices named one different participant as being of curiosity: Karl Etta Eyong. The 22-year-old Levante striker has been monitored by Barca since remaining summer season season, when he was equipped to them at a lowered worth as he had an exit clause at his then membership Villarreal. The Catalans decided to not switch for the Cameroon worldwide as they’ve been experiencing points with their wage prohibit, whereas Robert Lewandowski was coming into the final word 12 months of his contract.
Karl Etta Eyong has scored 5 events in 9 La Liga appearances this season (David Aliaga/NurPhoto by way of Getty Footage)
Nevertheless Etta Eyong’s establish continues to be on the desk. He joined Levante within the summertime and his current deal consists of an exit clause throughout the space of €30m. Barcelona are properly acutely aware of it and Etta Eyong has impressed with 5 targets in 9 La Liga appearances this season, nevertheless there’s nonetheless an prolonged technique to go until the summer season season.
What’s occurring with Marc-Andre ter Stegen?
Goalkeeper Ter Stegen is teaching collectively together with his team-mates as soon as extra and throughout the remaining phases of his restoration from the once more surgical process he underwent remaining summer season season. You will keep in mind the controversy that saga triggered on the time.
The 33-year-old Germany worldwide has not acquired medical clearance to play as soon as extra, nevertheless he is on course and anticipated to acquire that all-clear throughout the coming weeks. Flick suggested his press conference sooner than the Eintracht sport that Ter Stegen would possibly return to the squad for that match.
Barca’s plan for him has not modified, though. Ter Stegen is anticipated to proceed as a backup alternative, with membership sources insisting summer season season signing Joan Garcia is No 1 — which might be supported by Flick. The coach has been very pleased with Garcia since he arrived from metropolis rivals Espanyol and has labelled him as a result of the membership’s goalkeeper for the next 10 years. “I’m clear on this, Joan is my No 1 goalkeeper,” Flick suggested his press conference on Monday.
In Barca’s senior locations of labor, sources admit that Ter Stegen’s necessary contract, which runs until 2028, is seen as a problem. Nevertheless they’ll have no alternative other than honouring that deal if Ter Stegen wants to stay.
Barca would ideally similar to the goalkeeper to actively look for a switch subsequent month, even on mortgage. The prospect of being Germany’s No 1 for subsequent summer season season’s World Cup in america, Canada and Mexico would possibly encourage Ter Stegen to go away as he searches for the game time wished to steer nationwide workforce supervisor Julian Nagelsmann.
Even so, the ultimate we heard from the participant’s camp was that he had no intention to go away Barca sooner than the tip of this contract. Watch this space.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen is teaching collectively together with his Barcelona team-mates as soon as extra (Alex Grimm/Getty Footage)
What must we look out for this week?
Barcelona face Eintracht Frankfurt throughout the Champions League tomorrow (Tuesday), hoping to boost their state of affairs throughout the opponents — they’re 18th throughout the league half, with seven elements after 5 video video games, throughout the unseeded play-off places.
Nevertheless Barca have one different intention in that sport: avoiding a repeat of the scenes witnessed in April 2022, when Eintracht beat them throughout the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final on the Camp Nou. 1000’s of German followers have been in attendance that night, nearly turning Barca’s stadium right into a home flooring for Eintracht’s avid gamers. The sight of the quite a few Eintracht followers celebrating Barca’s elimination was seen as a travesty in Catalonia.
The membership have confirmed that, for this sport, they’ll solely promote tickets to their very personal members. There might be an space for away followers, nevertheless no tickets other than that may be purchased to the general public to avoid a repeat of that embarrassing state of affairs three years prior to now.
Barca might even monitor what their very personal members do with their tickets. They’ll solely be despatched by way of the membership’s official app and it will not be attainable to change them to a special client. Barca have already observed irregular train with 300 members who most likely tried to resell their tickets and are planning on taking movement in opposition to those who strive to do that.
Additional reporting: Laia Cervello Herrero
Leave a Reply