Carlo Ancelotti devises 'anti-Hansi Flick plan' ahead of Real Madrid's must-win La Liga meeting with Barcelona in Clasico

Barcelona have flourished under Flick so far, achieving an impressive 11 wins out of 13 matches. Their recent 4-1 victory against Bayern Munich in the Champions League underscores their strength, with Flick’s philosophy of high pressing and advanced defensive positioning playing a significant role.

Although Flick's high line has been effective in stifling opponents, this tactic has a key vulnerability - Barcelona’s defenders often play at a considerable distance from their own goal, leaving them exposed to quick transitions and counter-attacks. In recent matches, this weakness has been exposed. Against Bayern, a well-timed switch in play from centre-back Kim Min-jae caught the Barcelona defence out of position, leading to Harry Kane’s breakthrough goal.

According to AS, Ancelotti’s tactical plan against Barcelona will draw heavily on past success in targeting the high-risk, high-reward approach that Flick’s predecessors also employed. The Italian’s game plan resembles the strategy used in last season’s Supercopa de Espana final when Real Madrid capitalised on Barcelona’s high line to secure a 2-0 lead within the opening 10 minutes. On that occasion, Vinícius Junior’s speed proved critical, punishing Barcelona’s advanced defensive setup.

As Flick continues with similar defensive structures, Ancelotti’s blueprint for Saturday's clash is expected to rely heavily on this familiar strategy. With the pace and skill of Vinícius and Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid aim to exploit Barcelona’s high line by catching their defence off-guard, employing fast breaks and direct passes to bypass the press and create clear scoring opportunities.

In preparing for what could be a season-defining fixture, Ancelotti remains focused on ensuring Real Madrid bring their “best version” to the field. A win for Los Blancos will see them grab pole position and also match Barcelona's record of 43 unbeaten games in La Liga set between 2017 and 2018.