Barcelona Offers Support to Hansi Flick Amid Family Tragedy Ahead of El Clasico
Barcelona Stands by Hansi Flick in Difficult Times
Barcelona, Spain - On May 10, FC Barcelona extended heartfelt condolences to their head coach Hansi Flick following the recent death of his father. The club expressed its support for Flick and his family as they navigate this challenging period, especially with the El Clasico against Real Madrid approaching on Monday.
In a heartfelt message shared on X, the club emphasized that the entire Blaugrana community is united in solidarity with Flick during this tough time.
The message read, "FC Barcelona and the entire blaugrana family wish to send all our love to Hansi Flick after the passing of his father. We share in your sorrow, and our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time."
FC Barcelona and the entire blaugrana family wish to send all our love to Hansi Flick after the passing of his father. We share in your sorrow and our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.
Der FC Barcelona und die ganze blaugrana Familie möchten Hansi… pic.twitter.com/uBFPTMyQCl
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 10, 2026
In contrast, Real Madrid faced a significant setback as Kylian Mbappe, who has been dealing with a muscle injury in his left leg, was unable to finish Saturday's training session at Valdebebas. Consequently, he was not included in the squad for the crucial match at Camp Nou.
The club confirmed the squad announcement on X, revealing that Mbappe's name was absent. The medical team and coaching staff opted to prioritize his health, especially with the La Liga title race becoming increasingly precarious.
Mbappe's absence is particularly concerning for Madrid, given his impressive record against Barcelona, averaging a goal every 67 minutes in Clasico encounters. He had previously scored a hat-trick in last season's Clasico at Montjuic, despite Madrid's defeat.
Despite facing multiple injury setbacks, Mbappe has had a stellar debut season in Spain, netting 41 goals in 41 matches across all competitions. His recent recovery period has also been marred by controversy due to trips to Italy and France, which attracted criticism from the Spanish media.
Madrid heads into this crucial match with several key players unavailable, including midfielder Federico Valverde, forward Rodrygo, defender Eder Militao, young talent Arda Guler, and full-backs Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy.
On the other hand, Barcelona has the opportunity to secure the La Liga title if they avoid a loss against their fierce rivals, marking a historic moment as it would be the first time the championship is decided during a Clasico. However, Madrid can still postpone Barcelona's celebrations by narrowing the gap at the top to eight points with three matches left.