Hansi Flick is playing a dangerous game. If you watched the recent Barca vs Red Star clash in the Champions League, you know exactly what I mean. Barcelona is currently defending with a line so high it’s practically sitting in the opponent's dugout. It’s nerve-wracking. It’s chaotic. Honestly, it’s probably the most entertaining thing in European football right now.
But here’s the thing: it works.
Red Star Belgrade, playing at the notoriously loud Rajko Mitić Stadium, tried to exploit it. They really did. They even managed to find the net early on through Timi Elsnik, only for the assistant's flag to go up. That’s the "Flick Effect." You think you’ve scored, you’re halfway through a celebration, and then you realize the offside trap just snapped shut like a briefcase. By the time the final whistle blew, Barcelona had walked away with a 5-2 victory, but the scoreline doesn't tell the whole story of how intense this game actually felt.
The Night Robert Lewandowski Almost Hit 100
Everyone was talking about the century mark. Going into this match, Robert Lewandowski was sitting on 97 Champions League goals. People were basically placing bets on whether he’d join the exclusive "100 Club" alongside Messi and Ronaldo that very night.
He didn't quite get there, but he came agonizingly close.
Lewandowski bagged two. The first was a pure poacher's goal in the 43rd minute, reacting faster than anyone else after Raphinha rattled the post. His second, coming in the 53rd minute, was a simple tap-in at the back post thanks to a pinpoint Jules Koundé cross. He finished the night on 99. It’s almost more poetic that way, right? Leaving us all hanging for the next match.
While Lewy was doing Lewy things, Raphinha was arguably the best player on the pitch. The Brazilian is playing with a level of confidence we haven’t seen since his Leeds days. He assisted the opener—a lovely header from Iñigo Martínez—and then scored a low rocket himself from the edge of the box.
Why Red Star Belgrade Didn't Just Roll Over
It’s easy to look at a 5-2 score and think it was a blowout. It wasn't. Not at first.
Red Star is a different beast at home. The "Marakana" atmosphere is intimidating, and for a good thirty minutes, they were genuinely bothersome. Silas Katompa Mvumpa scored a beautiful equalizer in the 27th minute, perfectly timing his run to beat that high defensive line. For a moment, the stadium was shaking. You could see the Barca youngsters looking a bit rattled.
- The Silas Goal: A masterclass in timing.
- The High Line Risk: Gerard Martín played Silas onside by a fraction of an inch.
- The Response: Barca didn't panic; they just pushed the line even higher.
That’s the hallmark of this new Barcelona. Under Xavi, they sometimes felt fragile when things went south. Under Flick, they just seem to get more aggressive. They doubled down on the pressure, and eventually, the Serbian champions just ran out of gas.
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Jules Koundé is Secretly a Creative Genius
If you haven't been paying attention to Jules Koundé lately, you're missing out. Usually known as a rock-solid center-back playing out of position at right-back, he has transformed into a creative hub.
In the Barca vs Red Star match, Koundé recorded a hat-trick of assists.
A hat-trick. As a defender.
He assisted Lewandowski’s second, Raphinha’s strike, and the fifth goal by Fermín López. He’s not just overlapping; he’s picking out passes that most "number 10s" would be proud of. His chemistry with Lamine Yamal on that right flank is becoming a nightmare for every left-back in Europe.
The Cost of Victory: Pau Cubarsí’s Battle Scar
It wasn't all celebrations, though. The sight of 17-year-old Pau Cubarsí leaving the field with blood streaming down his face was the low point of the night. He took a high boot to the jaw while defending a set-piece.
He ended up needing ten stitches.
Most kids his age are worried about exams; he’s getting his face stitched up in Belgrade after pocketing seasoned international strikers. He’s expected to be fine, but it was a sobering reminder of the physicality Red Star brought to the game. Sergi Domínguez came on to replace him and looked solid, which speaks volumes about the depth of La Masia.
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What Most People Get Wrong About This Barca Team
There’s this narrative that Barcelona is "lucky" with their offside traps. People see the opponent score three or four goals that get ruled out and think, "Man, Barca escaped there."
That's not luck. It’s a tactical choice.
They are deliberately conceding space behind them to compress the midfield. By squeezing the pitch, they force the opponent into hurried passes. If the passer is under pressure, the runner's timing is almost always going to be off by a millisecond. That millisecond is the difference between a goal and an offside flag. In the Barca vs Red Star game, Red Star was caught offside nine times. Nine. That isn't a fluke; it's a defensive system working exactly as intended.
Tactical Takeaways for Your Next Football Debate
If you're talking about this game with friends, here are the bits of "insider" info that actually matter:
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- Efficiency over Possession: Barca only had about 70% possession, but they created 21 shots. They aren't just passing for the sake of it anymore; they are vertical and clinical.
- The Casadó Pivot: Marc Casadó is doing the "Busquets role" but with more running. He was the one who started the move for Fermín’s goal with a line-breaking pass.
- The Yamal Gravity: Even when Lamine Yamal doesn't score or assist, he draws three defenders toward him. This is what gave Koundé so much room to cross.
What’s Next for Both Clubs?
Barcelona is now sitting comfortably in the top tier of the Champions League table. They’ve scored 15 goals in their last three European games. That is an insane stat. They look like genuine contenders to win the whole thing, which sounded like a joke just twelve months ago.
For Red Star, the road is tougher. They showed they can compete offensively, but their defense just couldn't handle the pace of Barca’s transitions. They’ll need to pick up points in their remaining fixtures if they want any hope of sneaking into the playoff spots.
Next Step for You: Keep a close eye on the injury reports for Pau Cubarsí. If he's out for a significant stretch, Flick might finally have to drop that defensive line a few yards back. Whether they can maintain this win streak without their young "General" at the back is the big question for the coming weeks. Check the La Liga standings to see how this momentum carries over into their domestic title race against Real Madrid.