Hansi Flick's Barcelona Weather the Storm: Champions Know How to Bounce Back

The atmosphere around Barcelona entering the October international break has reached its lowest point.

Paris Saint-Germain rightfully delivered Barcelona their first loss of the campaign in a much-awaited Champions League encounter. Four days following, Sevilla crushed Barcelona 4–1 to inflict their inaugural La Liga defeat of the season.

Barcelona hadn't suffered back-to-back losses in more than nine months. Currently, there are genuine worries about the condition of Hansi Flick's squad and the German manager has a fortnight to attempt finding solutions to address these issues.

Nevertheless, it may be premature to sound the alarm bells, as Barcelona have experienced similar situations previously. What superior method exists to evaluate Barcelona's season opening than comparing it to the initial 10 matches of the previous campaign? During which, following Flick's appointment, they would proceed to secure their first domestic treble.

Analyzing Barcelona's 2025-26 Opening Against Domestic Treble Campaign

After 10 matches this campaign, Barcelona's performance nearly mirrors what they accomplished during the early stages of Flick's inaugural season.

Barcelona have contested eight La Liga fixtures and two Champions League matches thus far in 2025–26, making it appropriate to examine how events unfolded during that identical period last year.

Similar to the previous season, Barcelona began La Liga with seven matches without defeat. The sole distinction is that last year, Dani Olmo's 82nd minute strike secured the Catalans a 2–1 victory in their Gameweek 3 trip to Rayo Vallecano. This campaign, the Catalans accepted a 1–1 stalemate away at Rayo in their third league fixture.

Barcelona's La Liga Performance

Barcelona have suffered heavy defeats in their eighth league match to end their unbeaten domestic streak in both recent seasons. This campaign it was Sevilla, last season it was a 4–2 loss away at Osasuna in one of Barça's poorest displays of the year.

Even Barcelona's goal differential in La Liga bears an eerie resemblance to what they achieved at this stage last season. However, through eight games, Barcelona have accumulated 19 points compared to last season's 21.

Perhaps the most significant difference this season is that Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid appear considerably stronger than they did under Carlo Ancelotti. Los Blancos presently lead the table with 21 points, contrasted with last season when Barça was setting the tempo with that total and Real Madrid trailing in second with 18 points.

Barcelona's Champions League Performance

Barcelona maintain an identical record to last season after two European matches. Indeed, the goal differential was superior in 2024–25, but Barcelona have encountered considerably tougher opposition to begin the 2025–26 Champions League league phase.

Last season, Barcelona fell 2–1 to Monaco and subsequently demolished Young Boys 5–0—the latter team would proceed to lose all their Champions League encounters. This season Barcelona launched their European campaign with a respectable 2–1 away triumph against Newcastle United and then lost by that same margin at home against defending champions PSG.

In summary, Flick's Barcelona has achieved nearly identical outcomes through ten matches in both of the German's campaigns at the club. Therefore, is there genuine reason for alarm?

Comparable Results but Vastly Different Displays

Clearly Barcelona's outcomes through 10 matches last season benefit from hindsight regarding how triumphant the campaign ultimately became. But following the loss against Osasuna at this time last year, anxieties were similarly expressed.

It's equally accurate that while the results might be fundamentally identical, Barcelona's displays this season fall far short of the standard they demonstrated last season through 10 matches.

At no moment last season were Barcelona as thoroughly outplayed and completely dominated during a contest as they have been in the previous two games. With over a season of evidence, teams have identified the vulnerabilities of Flick's Barça.

You could recognize almost immediately that Barcelona were destined to be among the world's elite teams last season. This time around, they've only demonstrated that in brief moments. Despite the comparable record, the Catalans have already required three comeback victories in La Liga this season, they had six total last campaign.

You can highlight injuries that have sidelined crucial players—Lamine Yamal, Alejandro Balde, Raphinha, Fermín López, Gavi and Joán García have all been or remain unavailable—but Barcelona commenced 2024–25 without Frenkie de Jong, Fermín, Gavi and Ronald Araújo, while they were also depending on Iñaki Peña in goal rather than Wojciech Szczęsny and Pau Víctor in attack instead of Marcus Rashford.

Why There's Cause for Hope

While Barcelona have appeared far from their peak in recent encounters, the October international break could be precisely what the squad requires.

Flick will have opportunity to contemplate what has gone awry and begin working on resolving Barça's problems. Raphinha, García, Fermín and Yamal are also all expected to return to action shortly after the break.

It's also reasonable to recall that this is nowhere near the worst period Barça have endured under Flick. Barcelona gathered merely six of 24 available points in La Liga during a terrible eight-game period last season. After falling seven points behind Real Madrid in the table, the Catalans would then proceed to win 15 of their subsequent 16 league matches to secure the title.

Indeed, substantial improvement is required following the international break, but there's a clear precedent suggesting Flick's side are more than capable of getting back on track.