At a glance
- Hansi Flick and FC Barcelona are closing in on a second consecutive La Liga title.
- In two seasons, it will be the German’s fifth piece of major domestic silverware at Real Madrid’s expense.
- Yet after clearing up at home, the Champions League remains the Holy Grail for the Catalans.
Rewind back to the summer of 2024. FC Barcelona had just finished the season trophyless and fired Xavi Hernandez not just because of that, but also publicly complaining that the club of his life couldn’t compete with Real Madrid financially.
Madrid had sealed a double that contained the La Liga crown and a record 15th Champions League. With Los Blancos also signing Kylian Mbappe, onlookers predicted an era of dominance coming out of the Spanish capital.
Barca on the other hand were done, with Joan Laporta foolishly hiring a figure in Hansi Flick whose best days were behind him after crashing and burning with the German national team.
How wrong they got it.
The mid 2020s are the Flick and Barcelona era in Spain
On May 1, 2026, Flick is closing in on a fifth piece of domestic silverware to Madrid’s none. His team of La Masia youth and hardworking veterans are the undoubted Kings of Spain, and the antidote to Madrid’s pampered, anti-pressing primadonnas.
Mbappe might have the scoring records. But the boys from the Bernabeu are about to finish a second consecutive term without adding to their trophy cabinet when it comes to major honours.
What stings more is that Barca have done it at their expense. Real Sociedad won the Copa del Rey this term, sure.
But Flick’s win in the competition in 2024/2025 came against Madrid in Sevilla, as did two Saudi Super Cup final triumphs in addition to what are bound to be back-to-back La Liga conquests boasting an 11-point lead.
Just like Gerard Pique back in the day, the German can lift the “manita” of five fingers for his trophy haul this weekend against Osasuna.
That depends on getting a win in El Sadar, however. Plus Espanyol beating Alvaro Arbeloa’s men at the RCDE Stadium.
Perhaps waiting until El Clasico on May 10 would be the sweetest success. If Barca win there at the Spotify Camp Nou, they’ll then head to the street to party with Culers on the following Monday.
The Champions League continues to be the Holy Grail for the Blaugrana. But nobody can question the claim that this is the Flick era in Spain. And that Laporta got it right when banking on the former Bayern boss at a desperate time.
With the 61-year-old set to sign a new contract until 2028 with an optional year according to Fabrizio Romano, long may it continue.
