Three takeaways for Hansi Flick from Barcelona 4-4 Atletico Madrid | Copa del Rey

The Estadi Olimpic de Lluis Companys was something however full on Tuesday night time as Barcelona took on Atletico Madrid within the semifinal of the Copa del Rey.

The sport in itself was entertaining until the very finish with each groups having the higher hand in some unspecified time in the future and finally splitting the spoils.

Objectives have been in abundance, tensions ran excessive, and officiating errors as soon as once more got here to the fore. In the long run, nevertheless, Barcelona needed to accept a 4-4 draw heading into the second leg in April.

Pedri, Inigo Martinez, Pau Cubarsi, and Robert Lewandowski have been on the scoresheet with Raphinha, Jules Kounde, and Lamine Yamal taking house the assists.

For Atletico Madrid, it was Julian Alvarez, Antoine Griezmann, Marcos Llorente, and Alexander Sorloth who discovered the again of the web.

Barça Common brings you three takeaways for Hansi Flick from Barcelona 4-4 Atletico Madrid.

Recent mentality testified

Barcelona should take the blame. (Photograph by David Ramos/Getty Pictures)

Whereas the top of final night time’s sport was largely damaging for Barcelona, one should not neglect to provide the staff credit score the place it’s due.

For years now, the Catalans have suffered after going a purpose down merely due to a insecurity.

The psychological resilience of the dressing room has been fragile for lengthy and it remained unclear if Hansi Flick truly introduced any adjustments on that entrance.

Final night time’s sport testified that the Blaugrana have a far brisker and superior mentality to what followers have come to affiliate them with lately.

It simply took 5 minutes for Barcelona to go two objectives down in opposition to Atletico Madrid final night time. They seemed to be outdone on the counterattack and have been fragile on the again, and going two objectives down early within the semifinal certainly couldn’t be straightforward.

But, at no level after that did they appear to tame down. Flick’s facet managed the sport, asserted their authority, and struck back-to-back objectives to stage the scores. 

Pedri and Pau Cubarsi are to credit score for the opening two objectives, and Inigo Martinez even made it 3-2 earlier than the break.

The staff can and needs to be criticized for blowing their lead, however they have to be credited for having the psychological fortitude to not again off even after going two objectives down.

Substitutions let Flick down

Gavi did not make an influence. (Photograph by Alex Caparros/Getty Pictures)

Flick has largely been improbable along with his in-game adjustments all season and the gamers he brings on often present an instantaneous influence.

Final night time, nevertheless, his substitutions didn’t fairly work out and even probably price Barcelona dearly.

The Catalans by no means actually dominated the sport within the second half, however Lewandowski’s purpose helped them safe a sizeable lead they usually appeared snug enjoying the ball round and protecting possession.

Gavi and Fermin Lopez, who got here on to interchange Dani Olmo and Raphinha respectively, let the staff down massively as they struggled to maintain Barcelona’s possession spell going.

As Olmo, Raphinha, and Pedri made their method off the sphere one after the opposite, Barcelona slowly misplaced management of the midfield and Atletico Madrid started dominating the participant with possession and probabilities.

The staff merely might not sustain with Los Rojiblancos’ excessive press and succumbed to the stress, finally conceding two objectives and permitting a 4-4 end result on an evening when they need to have received convincingly.

Ranging from scratch

Barcelona would possibly discover it troublesome to face Atletico away from house. (Photograph by David Ramos/Getty Pictures)

Whereas the 4-4 end result will not be poor for Barcelona by any means, it’s removed from what they might have hoped midway by means of the semifinal tie.

Enjoying the primary leg at Montjuic, it was all the time the staff’s goal to safe a sizeable lead and a bonus heading into the reverse fixture at Civitas Metropolitano.

Now, nevertheless, the sport in Madrid will kick off afresh and Barcelona should begin from scratch enjoying at a international venue.

There may be certainly a month to go earlier than the second leg is performed and the 2 groups will meet on the Metropolitano even earlier than that night time in La Liga. With the stakes sky excessive and no result in fall again on, it’s important that Flick will get his selections proper subsequent month.

On a optimistic notice, Barcelona have been the higher staff by far and can look to be extra environment friendly within the reverse fixture to safe the win.

Having did not beat Atletico Madrid twice this season, nevertheless, the query is whether or not they can do it away from house twice in a month.