Hansi Flick is already preparing his personal revenge against Simeone before facing Barcelona on Tuesday (21:30, Olympic Stadium in Montjuic) in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final . Both coaches have already met face to face, although without the German sitting on the bench due to suspension, in La Liga, and the Argentinean came out on top. Now the Blaugrana coach wants to correct the errors of that defeat against Atlético de Madrid to take the first step towards the Copa del Rey final.
The semi-finals of the Copa del Rey open this Tuesday at the Olympic Stadium in Montjuic with the first leg of the first duel between Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid. A great match between two teams that are fighting tooth and nail for the League, along with Real Madrid , and who now want to play in the final in Seville. Only one will be able to reach it.
This will be the fourth time that Hansi Flick has faced Simeone on the pitch. The second time as Barcelona coach. The first two were with Bayern Munich in the Champions League group stage in 2020. At the Allianz Arena, the Germans beat Atlético Madrid 4-0. At the Metropolitano, the result was a 1-1 draw.
The previous and first duel between Flick and Simeone as coaches of Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid took place on December 21. The German coach was unable to sit on the bench, and therefore could not greet the Argentine before and after the match. This Tuesday in the Copa del Rey he will be able to do so. That is one of the big changes compared to that match where the colchoneros took the victory from Montjuic.
Flick prepares his revenge against Simeone
Flick was sent off against Betis two games earlier and served a suspension against Leganés and Atlético de Madrid. Therefore, in Barcelona 's previous match against the red-and-white team, the coach who sat on the bench for the Blaugrana was Marcus Sorg, second in command to the German coach.
A match that Atlético de Madrid won after overturning Pedri 's opening goal with two goals from Rodrigo De Paul on the hour mark and Sorloth in the 96th minute. Flick 's men shot 19 times, seven of them on target, compared to five for the Madrid team.
Barcelona played well in that game, especially in the first half. They brought great intensity to the game and still lost. They made incomprehensible mistakes in the second half and fell apart in the final stretch of the game. Sorloth's goal in the last second of the game was a cold shower for Flick . But since that game, Barça have not lost again. 11 wins and two draws in their next thirteen games. It was undoubtedly a turning point for the Catalan team.
That match was not played by Lamine Yamal , injured, and this time it is possible that the young Barça star will not be in the starting eleven either. He is doubtful until the last minute due to a strong blow to his left foot. What Hansi Flick is clear about is that he has to change something compared to the match against Atleti in the League. The team was not so successful up front and paid dearly for its errors in defensive transitions. Now the German coach is looking for his personal revenge against Simeone . The League title went to the Argentine and this Tuesday we will find out who will win the first round towards the final of the Copa del Rey.
