Flick's tactical approach, featuring an extremely high defensive line, also seemed ripe for Mbappe and Vinicius to pillage with their pace.

The Catalan giants triumphed at the Santiago Bernabeu to snap Madrid's run of 42 matches unbeaten and continue their own revival under the German coach who arrived this summer.

When Flick was coach of Bayern they thrashed Barcelona 8-2 in the 2020 Champions League quarter-finals.

The 36-year-old hitman looks far sharper than last season and has 12 goals in 11 games across all competitions.

The Catalans won all seven of their opening fixtures but Flick's heavily rotated side came badly undone in Pamplona as Ante Budimir scored a brace either side of Bryan Zaragoza's strike.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick backed reserve goalkeeper Inaki Pena to replace stricken team-mate Marc-Andre ter Stegen on Tuesday, but also said the club must discuss if they will sign a replacement.

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will have surgery on a ruptured knee tendon, the Catalan club said Monday, with the club's captain potentially sidelined for the rest of the season.

Yamal, who grabbed the spotlight as he helped Spain win their fourth European Championship title in July, scored twice in the first half before Dani Olmo and Pedri secured the win with Flick's side maintaining their unbeaten start to the league season.

"I know Robert (Lewandowski) really well and I don't think he has returned to form because that's how I have always seen him as a player," Flick told DAZN.

New Barcelona manager Hansi Flick said he expects Ilkay Gundogan to stay this season after reports linked the midfielder with a move away from the LaLiga club.

The German coach celebrated his first competitive match at the helm with three points as Barca came from behind against Ruben Baraja's solid Valencia side.

RB Leipzig's Spain international Dani Olmo is leaving after more than four years at the Bundesliga club, the midfielder said on Friday, and is now expected to join Barcelona.

Toni Fernandez, who signed with Barca earlier this month after turning 16, flicked in a left-footed shot past reserve City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega to give the German manager's side a 4-1 win on penalties after the teams played to a 2-2 draw.

New Barcelona coach Hansi Flick on Thursday hailed the performance of the Spanish club's teenage winger Lamine Yamal at Euro 2024, calling it "unbelievable".

Barcelona appointed Hansi Flick as coach on Wednesday on a deal until June 30, 2026, after sacking Xavi Hernandez last week.

Xavi has insisted there has been no change to his decision to leave Barcelona at the end of the season.

Julian Nagelsmann is on the verge of being appointed coach of the German men's national team following the sacking of Hansi Flick after a series of disappointing results, local media reported Tuesday.

Germany have sacked coach Hansi Flick just nine months from hosting Euro 2024 after Saturday's humiliating 4-1 loss to Japan, the German FA (DFB) announced on Sunday.

Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gundogan will captain Germany, manager Hansi Flick confirmed on Friday, nine months before the country hosts Euro 2024.

Germany will unusually feature two forwards in their friendly international against Peru on Saturday, coach Hansi Flick said on Friday as he looks to build a battle-worthy team for next year's Euro 2024.