Hansi Flick’s Barcelona grabbed three important points and a commanding win in Serbia during their fourth Champions League match. Barcelona traveled to take on Red Star Belgrade and walked away with a solid 5-2 victory, boosting their Champions League tally to nine points. Under Flick’s leadership, Barcelona has been in sensational form, racking up 14 wins out of 16 games across all competitions. With 55 goals scored and just 16 conceded, the team’s attacking firepower and defensive discipline are proving hard for any opponent to handle this season.
Despite a wave of injuries sidelining key players—Marc-André ter Stegen and Marc Bernal with knee issues, Ronald Araújo and Ferran Torres with hamstring strains, Eric García out due to a muscle injury, and Andreas Christensen nursing an Achilles problem. Hansi Flick’s Barcelona found no trouble overcoming Red Star Belgrade at the Stadion Rajko Mitic.
Flick set up his team in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Iñaki Peña stepping in as goalkeeper. Jules Koundé and Gerard Martín held down the full-back positions, while Martínez and young Pau Cubas formed a central defensive duo. In midfield, Casado joined Frenkie de Jong, providing structure, while Pedri took on the creative role just behind Robert Lewandowski. Yamal brought energy on the right wing, and captain Raphinha controlled the left. Red Star, under coach Vladan Milojević, opted for a 4-3-2-1 formation with Marko Ilić in goal and Cherif Ndiaye leading their attack.
Only four minutes into the game, Red Star seemed to strike first as Timi Elsnik found the net. However, the goal was swiftly disallowed for offside, a sharp call by the linesman. Barcelona took advantage in the 13th minute, when Iñigo Martínez rose to meet a well-placed free kick from Raphinha, sending a powerful header into the net.
With their early lead, Barcelona controlled the pace until the 27th minute, when Crvena Zvezda found an equalizer through Silas, energizing the home fans. Barcelona didn’t take long to respond, though. Just before halftime, Robert Lewandowski put them back in front with a precise finish. Barcelona entered the break with a 2-1 lead, driven by Raphinha’s playmaking and Lewandowski’s sharp finishing, setting them up for a strong second half.
In the second half, Barcelona kept up their high-energy play. Robert Lewandowski struck again in the 53rd minute, securing his second goal of the night. Just two minutes later, Raphinha found the net, rounding off a stellar evening with a goal and two assists. His season tally now stands at 12 goals and 11 assists. A remarkable 23 goal contributions in just 16 games, making him the first player across Europe’s top leagues this season to hit double digits in both goals and assists. Barcelona’s scoring spree didn’t end there. In the 76th minute, López added a fifth goal, assisted by Jules Koundé, who racked up an impressive three assists in the game. Earlier, Iñigo Martínez had opened the scoring, contributing to a well-rounded team effort. Although Crvena Zvezda’s Milson managed to pull one back late in the game, Barcelona’s lead was never really in doubt.
The final whistle blew on a commanding 5-2 win for Barcelona. Another powerful performance from Hansi Flick’s side, with Lewandowski’s brace, Raphinha’s playmaking brilliance, and a squad showing they’re unstoppable right now.
