Soccer-Flick says Barca ready for Espanyol but wants sport suspended due to Valencia floods


  • Football
  • Saturday, 02 Nov 2024

Soccer Football - LaLiga - Valencia v FC Barcelona - Estadio de Mestalla, Valencia, Spain - August 17, 2024 FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick REUTERS/Pablo Morano/File Photo

(Reuters) - Barcelona boss Hansi Flick said his team were in high spirits after their thumping win at Real Madrid and had turned their attention to derby rivals Espanyol, but the German said all sport should be suspended due to the deadly floods in Valencia.

Barcelona thrashed Real Madrid 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu last weekend to establish a six-point lead in LaLiga but their city rivals Espanyol are 20 points behind and languishing in 17th place, a point above the relegation zone.

Barcelona hold an impeccable record in the fixture, which has often been one-sided, and have not lost against Espanyol in their last 26 league encounters, while Flick is well aware of the stakes ahead of his first derby.

"I know what a Barca-Espanyol derby means. It will be a tough match, for sure. After a fantastic week, it is important to be at 100% tomorrow, with intensity and maximum quality," Flick told reporters on Saturday.

"We always prepare well for the next game. After the celebrations, we focus on the next game. We work on what we want tomorrow. It's a very long game in the league and we focus on the next game."

With second-placed Real Madrid's game at Valencia postponed due to the floods, Barcelona can provisionally extend their lead to nine points.

But, like many others in sport, Flick voiced his concerns about playing during a time of tragedy after the deadliest flash floods in Spain's modern history killed at least 211 people while dozens are still unaccounted for.

"If it were me, I might do it (suspend sport) because it is an incredible tragedy for Valencia and Spain as a whole," the German coach said.

"We have spoken with Ferran (Torres), who is from the area, and it is not easy to decide whether the game should be played or not.

"For me it is a tragedy. It was something similar in Germany three years ago, it is horrible. We will do everything we can to help. The rest is for LaLiga to decide."

(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; editing by Clare Fallon)

   

Next In Football

Soccer-Ranieri optimistic despite starting third Roma stint with Napoli defeat
Soccer-Napoli need to focus on improvement, not Serie A lead, says Conte
Soccer-Mbappe and Bellingham inspire Real to 3-0 thrashing of Leganes
Soccer-No utopia for Man Utd as Anorim gets close-up view of challenge ahead
Soccer-Lukaku keeps Napoli on top with 1-0 win over Roma
Soccer-Amorim's Man United reign begins with low key draw at Ipswich
Soccer-Slot hails Liverpool's second-half comeback in 3-2 win at Southampton
Soccer-Liverpool build eight-point lead after Salah inspires comeback at Southampton
Soccer-Leicester City sack manager Cooper after winless run
Soccer-Reiten penalty keeps Chelsea top of WSL after win over Man United

Others Also Read