El Clasico finals are never just about tactics but also about nerve, rhythm, and choosing the right moments to be brave. FC Barcelona arrive in Jeddah in formidable form, riding a nine-game winning streak and fresh from dismantling Athletic Club with ease.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, are wounded, motivated, and desperate to erase the memory of last season’s Supercopa humiliation. The margins will be thin, the noise deafening, and every decision amplified.
This is precisely the kind of night where coaches earn their reputation. Hansi Flick has steadied Barcelona after early-season turbulence and has given the squad clarity, structure, and belief. But finals demand more than control.
They demand players who can tilt the game when patterns break, and pressure tightens. Against Real Madrid, especially in a one-off final, Barcelona cannot afford to be predictable.
That is why Flick should start Dani Olmo.
VIGO, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 09: Dani Olmo of FC Barcelona looks on during the La Liga EA Sports match between RC Celta de Vigo and FC Barcelona at Estadio Abanca-Balaidos on November 09, 2025 in Vigo, Spain.
Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images
Barcelona’s likely 4-2-3-1 offers control through Pedri and Frenkie de Jong, width through Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, and work rate up front with Ferran Torres. It is a solid structure. But structure alone does not win finals, especially when it’s a Clasico. Someone has to operate between the lines, disrupt Madrid’s midfield balance, and force defenders into uncomfortable decisions. That player is Olmo.
Real Madrid’s midfield trio of Aurelien Tchouameni, Jude Bellingham, and Eduardo Camavinga is powerful, athletic, and aggressive in transitions. What they are less comfortable with is a technically elite player who drifts into half-spaces, turns under pressure, and combines quickly in tight areas. Olmo’s game is built precisely on that discomfort. He doesn’t play to dominate possession; he plays to accelerate it at the right moment.
His recent form makes the case even stronger. Olmo has four goals in his last three appearances, and his return against Espanyol was emphatic. The goal itself, a curling strike into the far top corner, showcased his superior technique while also boosting his confidence. The €60 million-rated Spaniard will be keen to leave his mark in what should be a hard-fought contest.
Barcelona have, at times, struggled in big matches when the attacking midfield role becomes passive. Too often, the space behind the striker remains unused, allowing Madrid to compress the game and wait for transition moments. Olmo solves that problem. He forces centre-backs to step out. He pulls defensive midfielders out of shape. And he opens lanes for runners like Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal.
There is also a psychological layer to this decision. Olmo has carried the weight of expectations before and fallen short, most notably in last season’s Champions League elimination. That narrative still lingers, and finals are where such narratives are often rewritten. Flick has spoken often about trust and responsibility, and starting Olmo in a Supercopa final against Real Madrid would be a statement of both.
The counterargument is understandable. Fermin Lopez offers energy and pressing, while Raphinha can operate centrally. Flick could prioritise balance and wait to unleash Olmo from the bench. But waiting may be the riskier option as Real Madrid are at their most dangerous when they feel comfortable early. Letting them settle is an invitation that Barcelona cannot afford to hand out.
Starting Olmo sends a different message that Barcelona are here to dictate the game on their terms and start on the front foot. If the game tightens, and it will, Barcelona will need someone who sees solutions before others see problems. Someone who can turn a half-chance into a moment. Someone who belongs in these games. Dani Olmo is that player, and in a Clasico final, caution rarely makes history.