Tue Jan 21 16:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Barcelona Coach Flick Downplays Champions League Hopes, Focuses on Benfica Clash
**LISBON, Portugal** – Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has tempered expectations surrounding his team’s Champions League ambitions, emphasizing the immediate need to secure a victory against Benfica on Tuesday. While acknowledging Barcelona’s strong position in second place with 15 points, Flick highlighted Liverpool’s dominance at the top of the table with a perfect 18 points.
Flick praised Liverpool, calling them “one of my favourite teams in the world right now,” while acknowledging the intense competition for a top-eight finish and automatic qualification to the Champions League round of 16. He expressed admiration for Benfica’s style of play and singled out Angel Di Maria as one of his favorite players.
Despite Barcelona’s recent success in the Copa del Rey (a 5-1 win over Real Betis) and their strong Champions League showing, their La Liga form has faltered. A four-game winless streak, including a 1-1 draw against Getafe on Saturday, has left them seven points behind league leaders Real Madrid. Flick, however, remains positive about his team’s performance, attributing the inconsistent results to his first season in La Liga and a lack of familiarity with the league’s unique playing styles.
The coach reiterated his primary focus on the Benfica match, emphasizing the importance of securing a win to solidify their second place and potentially avoid the Champions League playoffs. He concluded by stating, “Our goal is to win against Benfica. It would be a big step for us and we want to do it.”
First Piper 