Barcelona faces Atletico Madrid at Montjuic tonight in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final, a crucial match in the Catalan team’s season. Hansi Flick is still considering the starting lineup, with the possibility of an offensive surprise.
According to information from the Spanish newspaper “El Nacional”, in the dressing room, several key players, such as Yamal and Raphinha, have expressed their desire to see Ferran Torres in the starting lineup. They believe that the former Valencia player has earned his chance thanks to his excellent performances in recent matches. Including Ferran in the starting lineup may require Lewandowski to be excluded, which is causing controversy within the club.
Ferran Torres’ performance in recent matches has not gone unnoticed. Whether he started or came off the bench, he has shown remarkable levels of speed, movement, and goal-scoring ability—qualities that have been decisive in some previous matches.
Yamal and Raphinha, who are key players in Flick’s system, believe that Barcelona achieves greater offensive dynamism when Ferran plays in the “9” position. Ferran’s movement gives the wingers and midfielders more space to create chances, which is not always the case with Lewandowski, whose style is based on fixed positioning. Ferran has also shown great chemistry with the midfielders, which could be key against Atletico Madrid, who are known for their defensive strength.
One reason Flick is considering starting Ferran Torres is the physical condition of Robert Lewandowski. Although the Polish forward is still the team’s main attacking option, at 36 years old, he may need to rest at certain points during the season. Although his numbers remain good, the team has performed better in some matches with a more dynamic striker. Ferran may be the best option to face a solid defense like Atletico Madrid’s.
The German coach has not yet made a final decision on his starting lineup, but he knows that he needs an effective plan to counter Atletico’s style of play. One option he is considering is playing Ferran in the “9” position and strengthening the midfield with a more creative player, while keeping Lewandowski on the bench in the second half.