Flick thrilled as Valencia thrashing epitomises Barcelona´s attacking style

Hansi Flick says Barcelona’s 5-0 victory over Valencia in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals epitomises the attacking play he wants from his team.

Barca extended their unbeaten run to 10 games in all competitions after up an early four-goal lead, led by a hat-trick from Ferran Torres, who stepped in for LaLiga and Champions League top-scorer Robert Lewandowski as Flick rested players.

He scored the fastest hat-trick for Barcelona in any competition (30 minutes) since Samuel Eto’o did it in LaLiga against Almeria in October 2008 (28′).

It is the second game in a row in the Copa del Rey that Barcelona have netted five goals, having also scored four in their opening game of the competition this term against Barbastro.

“It is amazing and it is the style we want to play,” Flick told TVE.

“The hunger this team has to always go after the next goal and then again and again is just remarkable.

“This is a young team that has learned how to play in harmony and with the rhythm we wanted and they are always focused in scoring goals.”

Barcelona have scored 109 goals in 35 matches in all competitions this season, an average of over three goals per game, and only one goal less than the 110 in 53 games they netted in the entire 2023-24 campaign.

The Blaugrana had been eliminated in two of their previous four Copa del Rey quarter-finals prior to Thursday’s victory, and better last season’s result as they were knocked out in the last eight by Athletic Bilbao.

Barcelona ed Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad in the two-legged semi-finals, with the draw set to take place on Wednesday.

“It was a great result which was very important for us, I’m very happy with the way the team played,” Flick said.

“They were focused from the start, creating chances and being aggressive and it was good that we managed to score early, it helped us a lot.”