If November was a difficult month for Hansi Flick’s FC Barcelona last season, October took over that mantle this time around. The Catalan club lost three of the five games they played that month across all competitions, setting the cat among the pigeons.
PSG, Sevilla, and Real Madrid all put Barcelona to the sword in October. Hansi Flick was dealing with injuries throughout the squad, and the team simply was not playing at last season’s level.
November, however, has seen a strong revival. According to Mundo Deportivo, Flick has slowly recovered his free-flowing Barcelona. The return of injured players has helped massively, and performances seem to be on a steady ascent with every passing game.
Flick’s Barcelona have managed three wins from three in La Liga this month and a 3–3 draw against Club Brugge in the Champions League. They are now in good form with a stronger squad ahead of their trip to London to face Chelsea.
With Real Madrid dropping points in Elche, Barcelona are now just one point away from the top of La Liga and within striking distance of direct qualification spots to the round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League.
Several players have contributed to the resurgence. Robert Lewandowski has scored four goals in the last two games and has become Barcelona’s second top scorer with eight goals, just behind Ferran Torres.
Torres, stepping up in Marcus Rashford’s absence due to the flu on the left flank, scored twice against Athletic Club, showing versatility and consistency. Lamine is also making a comeback after intensive rehabilitation, overcoming the pubalgia that affected his previous performances.
Other players have impressed as well. Fermín has overtaken Olmo in the attacking midfield, earning Flick’s trust through determination and goals. Eric Garcia has emerged as a versatile defensive option, delivering a standout performance against Athletic, where he assisted two goals.
With De Jong returning from suspension and Raphinha and Rashford nearing full fitness, only Pedri remains on the sidelines. While the Stamford Bridge game might come a little too soon for him, it is not expected to be long before the Canary Islands midfielder returns to action.
The game against Athletic Club showcased a free-flowing Barcelona that also defended very well. It was a step in the right direction for Flick, and beating Chelsea on their own patch would send a statement that the Catalan club is ready to compete in the 2025–26 season.