Barcelona have arrived in Madrid for the second leg of their 2025-26 UEFA Champions League quarterfinal tie in opposition to Atletico, seeking to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the primary leg. However head coach Hansi Flick has already encountered his first impediment, lodging a grievance with a UEFA official over the situation of the enjoying floor on the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
On Monday, Barcelona held their pre-match press convention, with Lamine Yamal among the many most distinguished voices, even directing a message towards Atletico coach Diego Simeone, earlier than Flick addressed the media. The squad additionally carried out their remaining coaching session forward of Tuesday’s conflict on the Metropolitano, and their first contact with the pitch left one thing to be desired.
In footage captured by accredited media, Flick was visibly sad the second he stepped onto the sphere. The Barcelona supervisor crouched down on a number of events to look at the grass up shut, his physique language leaving little doubt about his dissatisfaction with what he discovered.
After figuring out that the grass was too lengthy and excessively dry, Flick wasted no time looking for out UEFA delegate Christian Kofoed of Denmark, who was stationed on the touchline. The German coach proceeded to make his considerations recognized on to the consultant in no unsure phrases.
Regardless of the clear frustration on show, Diario AS stories that Barcelona haven’t filed a proper grievance, with Flick’s remarks characterised as an remark that UEFA has acknowledged. Atletico Madrid, for his or her half, have reportedly pushed again in opposition to any suggestion that the pitch was in poor situation within the 24 hours main as much as kickoff.
see additionally
Atlético Madrid captain Koke sends robust message to Barcelona forward the Champions League conflict: ‘We’ll deal with it like a remaining’
Pitch situations emerge as one other impediment for Barcelona
A dry floor creates considerably extra friction because the ball rolls throughout it, inflicting it to decelerate significantly in comparison with a moist pitch, and that issue cuts immediately in opposition to Flick’s type of play. In La Liga, Barcelona lead all groups with 586 passes accomplished per sport, and within the Champions League they rank fourth with 507, whereas additionally inserting among the many decrease groups in lengthy ball frequency, making the tempo and smoothness of the enjoying floor a real aggressive concern.
The dry situations on the Metropolitano have already confirmed expensive for Barcelona on this very stadium this season. Within the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal, Atletico exploited an sudden bounce on the pitch that triggered goalkeeper Joan García to mishandle the ball, leading to an personal purpose that opened a 4-0 victory for the hosts. It’s exactly that sort of second Flick might be determined to keep away from when the 2 sides meet once more on Tuesday.
