Hansi Flick, the coach of Barcelona, emphasizes that his team's attention is firmly fixed on Real Madrid, rather than the potential return of Kylian Mbappé, as they gear up for the Spanish Supercopa final this Sunday in Saudi Arabia.
The 27-year-old forward missed Madrid's semifinal victory over Atlético Madrid due to a knee injury; however, he has now traveled to Jeddah and is a possible participant in the highly anticipated showdown.
This season, Mbappé has been in remarkable form, netting 29 goals across all competitions, including six goals in just five encounters against Barcelona, known as Clásicos. Despite this impressive record, Flick pointed out that many of those matches ended in triumph for Barcelona.
In response to questions regarding whether his team’s high defensive line might be challenged by Mbappé's speed and skill, Flick posed a thought-provoking question during a press conference: "How many Clásicos have we faced in the past year and a half? We’ve played five, and yes, we lost one. But that's just part of it. I recognize he’s an outstanding player, and he thrives with space, but our focus is on competing against one of the best teams in the world. We will adapt as we always do, but our priority is not Mbappé; it’s about how we approach Madrid and our style of play. We are dedicated to embodying the unique philosophy of Barcelona, which contrasts with that of Real Madrid.
When pressed about Mbappé’s current performance level, Flick acknowledged that there is arguably no better striker in the game today. "At this moment, Mbappé stands as the best forward in the world—that’s a fact. His scoring record speaks volumes, highlighting his status as a world-class talent."
Mbappé was instrumental in Madrid’s earlier 2-1 win over Barcelona in LaLiga this season, which halted a four-match winning streak for the Catalans under Flick’s guidance. Following that match, Madrid briefly topped the league, but the dynamics have shifted since then, with Barcelona now leading by four points and enjoying a nine-game winning streak.
Reflecting on that earlier setback, Flick stated, "It was just one game. Since then, we have refocused on what is essential, and our performance has improved significantly. It’s about moving forward with determination. The team is very concentrated, and I’m pleased with how things are shaping up. We aim to showcase our best abilities tomorrow."
Looking ahead, this final marks the fourth consecutive clash between Barcelona and Madrid at this level. Recent Supercopa matches have often predicted outcomes for the latter part of the season. Notably, the last four champions—Madrid (2022 and 2024) and Barcelona (2023 and 2025)—subsequently clinched LaLiga titles as well.
Barcelona triumphed in last year's final with an impressive 5-2 scoreline and heads into this matchup riding a wave of momentum, boasting a nine-game winning streak without conceding a single goal in their last five matches. The only notable absentees for Barcelona are long-term injured players Gavi and Andreas Christensen. Flick confirmed that Lamine Yamal is ready to start after being limited to the bench during the 5-0 semifinal win against Athletic Club.
