Barcelona may have secured a place in the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in six years, but their 3-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund has sparked internal doubts and fresh selection dilemmas ahead of a crucial period.
Despite progressing 5-3 on aggregate, head coach Hansi Flick was left dealing with a frustrated squad after full-time, with key figures such as Jules Kounde, Frenkie de Jong, and Robert Lewandowski publicly questioning the team’s performance. Flick admitted he had to remind his players of the significance of their achievement.
One bright spot for the Catalans was the return of Dani Olmo, who featured in the closing stages against Dortmund following his injury layoff. With the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid just over a week away, Flick reportedly plans to manage Olmo’s minutes in the upcoming La Liga fixtures against Celta Vigo and Mallorca, aiming to build his fitness gradually.
However, Olmo’s role in the final remains uncertain. According to Sport, Flick is leaning toward starting Fermin Lopez in Seville, with Olmo possibly used as a late-game weapon—similar to his substitute appearance in the earlier Clasico at the Santiago Bernabéu this season.
Lopez has enjoyed a run of consistent game time in recent weeks, especially with Gavi sidelined. While goals have been hard to come by, the young midfielder has earned Flick’s trust with his overall play.
Interestingly, Lopez was also in the starting XI during the previous El Clasico in Madrid, alongside Marc Casado. In that encounter, de Jong came off the bench to replace Lopez and helped spark a turnaround, leading to a dominant 4-0 victory.
With the Copa final looming, Flick’s midfield puzzle could prove decisive in Barcelona’s pursuit of silverware.
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