Hansi Flick Keeps Barcelona Grounded Despite Stunning New Club Record

Barcelona's stunning 7–2 demolition of Racing Santander on Wednesday night marked the club's seventh straight victory, establishing the longest winning start to a season in the club's entire history. Manager Hansi Flick, however, remained measured despite the celebrations.

Despite missing out on their primary transfer target Julián Alvarez, Barcelona have enjoyed a remarkably dominant run through the opening weeks of the new campaign, sitting atop La Liga after six consecutive wins while also launching their Champions League journey with a commanding victory over Feyenoord.

The midweek thrashing of newly promoted Racing was simply the latest showcase of Barcelona's devastating attacking prowess. Raphinha, Lamine Yamal and summer signing Karim Adeyemi spearheaded the rout in torrential conditions, delivering a start unprecedented in the club's 127-year existence.

"It's always great to get off to a strong start," Flick said before quickly tempering expectations. "What matters is how we finish; that's what we're working toward. We're in good form and need to make the most of it.

"Of course, I understand the excitement, but it's only been six matchdays. The most important thing is to remain focused on the next match, not on what might happen at the end of the season."

Historical precedent suggests Flick is wise to keep a level head about fast starts.

Greatest Starts to Barcelona Seasons Did Not Always Have Happy Endings

Before this season's seven-game winning streak, Barcelona had previously opened three campaigns with six consecutive victories — and none of those seasons concluded in the same glorious fashion.

In 1929–30, just the second season of La Liga, Barcelona's explosive opening run was eventually reined in by Fred Pentland's Athletic Club de Bilbao, a side that went unbeaten throughout the entire league season.

The decline was even more dramatic in 1960–61. The defending champions began their first season without recently departed coach Helenio Herrera by winning six straight games, conceding just a single goal. They would go on to win only six of their next 18 matches, suffer defeat in the European Cup final against Benfica, and finish a disappointing fourth in La Liga.

Ernesto Valverde's 2018–19 side did manage to hold on and claim the league title after their flying start, but the campaign was ultimately defined by their humiliating Champions League semifinal exit to Liverpool. After securing a 3–0 first-leg advantage at Camp Nou, Lionel Messi & Co. were routed 4–0 at Anfield.

Barcelona's Persistent Problem

Stats via Opta.

While most attention will be drawn to the 7 (SEVEN) on the scoreboard from Wednesday's win, the two goals Barcelona gave away cannot be completely ignored. The attacking machine Flick has assembled comes at the cost of a solid defensive foundation.

Barcelona's defensive vulnerabilities are more about quality than quantity. No side in La Liga has faced fewer shots than the reigning champions, yet those attempts tend to be high-quality opportunities. When factoring in both elements, Barcelona's expected goals conceded figure is actually bettered by five other clubs in the division this season.

This becomes a particularly glaring concern against top-level opposition who can repeatedly exploit Barcelona's notorious high defensive line. Barcelona have not kept a clean sheet in the Champions League since April 2025. Inter Milan netted seven times across their semifinal clash two seasons ago, while Atlético Madrid defeated the Catalans with two unanswered goals at Camp Nou last season.

In a bid to bring some defensive stability to complement their explosive attack, Barcelona signed one of the world's finest defensive midfielders this summer. However, it remains unclear whether Rodri can consistently reproduce his outstanding World Cup form for Spain throughout the demands of a full club season — something he struggled to do at Manchester City following his recovery from an ACL injury.

The season has begun promisingly, but how it ends remains far from guaranteed.