Hansi Flick Praises Barcelona Defense as Frankfurt Prep for Camp Nou Clash

Barcelona face Eintracht Frankfurt in Champions League after Hansi Flick hails team's improved defense, while Frankfurt look to bounce back from Bundesliga thrashing.

“Every match is new and starts from scratch. You can hardly draw conclusions from the past...”

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick is feeling confident about his team's defense, stating it's now on “another level” following a string of positive results. The Catalans have bounced back from a 3-0 loss to Chelsea in the Champions League, winning three matches in a row, including victories over Atletico Madrid and Real Betis.

Flick's side is set to face Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday in the Champions League, as they push for a top-eight finish in the league phase. The return of several injured players has boosted the team's morale and performance, with impressive wins against Atletico Madrid (3-1) and Real Betis (5-3) showcasing their improved form.

“Everyone knows what happened in the last three months, a lot of injuries, very important players out, the last weeks we have to manage the minutes, the load of every player,” Flick told a news conference.

The coach, Flick, acknowledged his team's defensive lapses against Betis but defended his high defensive line system, citing player fatigue in the final stages. “The last 10 minutes, they were exhausted,” he explained, referencing the two late goals conceded.

Flick's team has struggled with late-game defending, also conceding three goals against Club Brugge in a 3-3 draw earlier in November. Despite this, he's optimistic about the team's overall performance and will look to address these issues in upcoming matches.

“I said this morning to them, the (back) line is doing really good, we're getting pressure on the ball, we are connected. This is what we need.

“And the (high) line, they play it on another level than maybe one month, five weeks ago.”

Barcelona's win over Betis has solidified their position at the top of La Liga, with a four-point lead over their rivals. Now, all eyes are on Tuesday's Champions League match against Eintracht Frankfurt, a rematch of their 2022 Europa League encounter.

Frankfurt's fans are set to make their presence felt again, looking to replicate the atmosphere they created at Camp Nou in 2022, when Barcelona suffered a humiliating elimination from the Europa League. Flick's team is determined to turn that memory around and secure a positive result.

To avoid a repeat of the 2022 Europa League scenes, Barcelona limited ticket access for Tuesday's match. The club is anxious to maintain order at the reopened Camp Nou, where emotions can run high.

Barcelona has come a long way since that defeat, reaching the Champions League semi-finals last season. The Frankfurt match marks their return to European competition at Camp Nou, and they're looking to make a statement.

“For everyone it was a dream to come back and play in Camp Nou,” said Flick.

“It's also important for the Champions League. It's a really important match for us tomorrow.

“We have to win, we want to win three points. We want to show our best level.”

❝It’s good to have players in the team who enjoy working hard. Because of his mentality, Gerard Martín always tries to give his best for the team.❞

- Hansi Flick | #BarçaEintracht pic.twitter.com/yHODYsczFx

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 8, 2025

Team News

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick announced goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen may return to the squad after injury, but confirmed Joan Garcia as the number one choice.

Opposition Struggling

Frankfurt had a disappointing 6-0 loss to RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, sitting seventh in the league. They're 10 places below Barcelona in the league phase table, ranking 28th.

🔊 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢 𝐅𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 on Barça’s first Champions League match at the Spotify Camp Nou: pic.twitter.com/QEY8wt9gxV

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 8, 2025

Frankfurt's playmaker Mario Gotze, who worked with Flick in the Germany national team, praised the coach's “very attacking brand” of football. Gotze believes Frankfurt's past victory at Camp Nou won't influence Tuesday's match, saying, “Every match is new and starts from scratch. You can hardly draw conclusions from the past -- it was a unique experience, and we want to live our own experience.”

Gotze's comments highlight Frankfurt's focus on the present, looking to create their own story in Tuesday's match. The 33-year-old's words also suggest the team is aware of the challenge ahead, taking nothing for granted against Barcelona.