Hansi Flick has sent a pointed message to his Barcelona squad ahead of Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg against Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou.
According to Jose Alvarez Haya of El Chiringuito, Flick has told his players they must kill off the tie in the first leg. "In Madrid, winning will be way more complicated," the German coach insisted in his dressing room briefing.
The instruction is understandable. Barcelona face Atletico again at the Metropolitano on April 14 for the second leg. The first leg at Camp Nou is therefore the cleaner opportunity to build a decisive advantage. In 27 of their last 29 home games against Atletico across all competitions, Barcelona have gone unbeaten.
Atletico arrive having lost three in a row in all competitions. Nico Gonzalez is suspended after his red card on Saturday. Jan Oblak, Pablo Barrios, Johnny Cardoso and Marc Pubill remain out. Julian Alvarez and Griezmann will lead the line in what is Griezmann's final run of European nights before his summer move to Orlando City.
