Before El Clasico and PSG, Barcelona’s New Duo Present Flick With a Tough Test
A new development at Barcelona could force Hansi Flick to reconsider one of his key attacking decisions in the coming weeks. The Catalan club’s meeting with Galatasaray produced a moment that will be difficult for the German coach to overlook, intensifying the competition for one of the starting positions in his side.
Although Barcelona secured an emphatic victory in Istanbul, the match offered more than another three points. It also sent Flick a clear message ahead of a demanding run of fixtures that could reveal which player has the upper hand in the battle for a starting role.
The story unfolded during Barcelona’s 4-1 Champions League victory over Galatasaray, with Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi both making their mark by scoring in a comeback win. The result maintained Barcelona’s perfect start to the 2026-27 campaign and extended their winning streak to 10 matches across all competitions.
Gordon started the match and scored Barcelona’s third goal early in the second half. Flick then substituted the English winger in the 59th minute, bringing Adeyemi onto the pitch. The German forward needed just six minutes to score the fourth goal, demonstrating his ability to make an immediate impact even when starting from the bench.
The significance of their performances becomes clearer when considering the competition between the two summer arrivals, who were brought in to strengthen Barcelona’s attacking options. Gordon joined from Newcastle United in a deal worth approximately £69 million, while Adeyemi arrived from Borussia Dortmund for around £19 million.
Despite the considerable difference in their transfer fees, Adeyemi is showing that he can seriously challenge Gordon for the left-wing position. The England international justified his selection with an important goal, but his German teammate responded emphatically by finding the net shortly after coming on.
Barcelona’s comeback followed a difficult start, with Galatasaray taking the lead through Aleksey Batrakov before Joao Cancelo equalised shortly before half-time. Fermin Lopez put the visitors ahead after the break, Gordon extended their advantage, and Adeyemi completed the scoring with Barcelona’s fourth goal.
The result does not necessarily mean Flick is preparing to change his preferred lineup immediately, particularly given Gordon’s success as a starter. However, Adeyemi’s swift contribution from the bench has given the manager another compelling option and made the competition for the left-wing spot even more intriguing ahead of several important matches.
Speaking to Soccernet.ng after the game, Adeyemi expressed confidence in Barcelona’s winning mentality and ambitions, insisting that the team’s performances reflected its determination to compete for every available trophy.
“You see how we play, with a winning mentality, and our performance shows we want to win everything. You see this in every match. No retreat. No surrender,” the Germany international said.
The battle between Gordon and Adeyemi is particularly significant given Barcelona’s demanding schedule. Flick’s side are due to travel to Real Betis in La Liga on Saturday before facing Paris Saint-Germain in Paris on October 20. Barcelona will then host Real Madrid in the first Clasico of the season on October 25.
Those fixtures should provide Flick with further opportunities to assess his attacking options, especially as Barcelona look to make the most of their squad during a congested period. Gordon strengthened his case for retaining his place by scoring in consecutive matches and showing a promising understanding with Lamine Yamal during Barcelona’s second-half comeback against Galatasaray.
Adeyemi, meanwhile, offers a different attacking profile. His explosive pace and ability to exploit space could prove particularly valuable against defenders who begin to tire as matches progress. These qualities give Barcelona an alternative attacking weapon, whether the German starts or comes on in the second half.
Adeyemi also praised Barcelona’s defensive display against Victor Osimhen, saying the team’s defenders had done well to limit the striker’s influence despite Galatasaray’s promising start.
“Our defence did a great job yesterday, and it was very hard for him to make any serious impact,” Adeyemi told Soccernet.ng.
Barcelona have now scored nine goals in their opening two Champions League matches, underlining the strength of their attack at the start of the season. Flick’s challenge, however, is not simply to maintain that attacking output but to distribute playing time between two wingers who have both made convincing cases for a starting place.
Gordon currently holds a relative advantage after starting against Galatasaray and getting on the scoresheet, while Adeyemi strengthened his own claim with an immediate impact off the bench. The upcoming matches against Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid should provide a clearer indication of whether Flick intends to maintain the current arrangement or give the German forward a greater role in Barcelona’s starting lineup.
