BARCELONA: Hansi Flick warned his Barcelona stars they need to focus to avoid crumbling against Atletico Madrid on Sunday in La Liga as they have in their previous two meetings this season.
Leaders Barcelona are a point ahead of Diego Simeone鈥檚 Atletico, third, going into the huge title clash at the Metropolitano stadium in the Spanish capital.
Barcelona led against Atletico in the first league match in December but Rodrigo De Paul levelled for the visitors and Alexander Sorloth hit a 96th minute winner which helped them usurp the Catalans at the top of the table.
Then in the Copa del Rey semifinal first leg Barcelona let in two goals in the first six minutes and two late goals, including another Sorloth stoppage time strike in a wild 4-4 draw.
鈥淚 think we have had really two great matches and of course we have to be focussed from begninning to the end of the match,鈥� Flick told reporters Saturday.
鈥淚 think in the first match, at the end of the match we were not so focussed like we can be, and also the second match was (the same) in the beginning and also at the end, so we have to take care about that.
鈥淲hen you make mistakes Atletico can hurt you and this is what we have to defend against.鈥�
Atletico Madrid were knocked out of the Champions League on Wednesday on penalties by rivals Real Madrid, while Barcelona beat Benfica to reach the quarter-finals.
Former Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez scored a penalty in the shoot-out for Atletico which was controversially disallowed because he may have touched the ball twice when he slipped as he took it.
鈥淚t was an unlucky situation, I feel for him, he鈥檚 one of the best strikers,鈥� said Flick, adding that it was 鈥渘ot a problem鈥� for Atletico to have played 120 minutes because of their squad depth.
Flick has plenty of options himself with Dani Olmo seemingly ahead of Gavi in the pecking order for the attacking midfield spot.
Gavi and Barca defender Alejandro Balde were not included in the Spain squad to face the Netherlands in the Nations League quarter-finals next week, but the Barca coach hailed both players.
鈥�(Gavi) came from a huge injury and he鈥檚 20 years old and now at the moment he is I think, not the first (choice)... a more difficult situation but he鈥檚 doing great,鈥� said Flick.
鈥淎t the moment our midfield is doing really good. I鈥檓 happy he鈥檚 here and I think he will play many, many years for this amazing club and be one of the superstars here.
鈥淗e can improve a lot, he will do this. His attitude is unbelievably good, he鈥檚 really focussed and really happy he is here.
鈥淚 think for the World Cup 2026 he will be there and be able to play, 100 percent.鈥�
Flick said Balde was 鈥渙ne of the best鈥� left-backs in the world, and also praised veteran center-back Inigo Martinez, who was called up for Spain by national team coach Luis de la Fuente.
鈥淲ith his attitude and mentality he鈥檚 unbelievably good for every team,鈥� added Flick.