Flick wants to see clinical finishing from Barcelona

Barcelona must rediscover their golden touch in front of goal if they are to push on and win LaLiga, says Hansi Flick.

The Blaugrana are winless in three league matches and have seen their lead at the top of the standings cut to just one point.

Defeats against Real Sociedad and Las Palmas cut Barcelona’s have come either side of a 2-2 draw with Celta Vigo, in which they gave up a 2-0 lead.

With second-placed Real Madrid just a point behind and with a game in hand, Flick knows Barca cannot afford any slip-ups against Mallorca on Tuesday.

And Flick put Barca’s recent run down to wasting chances.

“For me, the good news is that November is over and we are in December,” Flick told reporters.

“The team has given a lot in those games, in the midfield we have had a lot of intensity and we have been very disciplined. We created chances but we have to finish better.

“It may seem like I’m making excuses, but we lost. We have to be focused in attack. We can’t afford to have two or three chances and do not score them. In football it’s the goals that count.”

It’s Monday, and it’s almost time for #MallorcaBarça pic.twitter.com/uVngIyYq8a

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 2, 2024

Across their past three fixtures in LaLiga, Barca have scored just three goals, underperforming their 4.7 expected goals (xG).

In that time, only Real Valladolid (4.76%) and Rayo Vallecano (6.25%) have a lower shot conversion rate than Barca (6.38%).

Flick says his team just need to show more focus on the details.

“We are a young team that have to learn and fight for victories,” Flick said.

“At the back, we need to stop conceding goals and for that we have to defend as a unit. In attack, we also have to be united. We have to score with the chances we get.

“We had long possessions and a lot of chances, but in the end it’s a fight to win the duels. When I see (Pau) Cubarsi or Inigo Martinez and how well they defend.

“Pedri runs a lot in midfield… so do the others. There is a long way to go, we want to win the league title and for that everyone has to fight.”