Welcome to the latest edition of Inside Barcelona, our weekly series to follow throughout La Liga’s 2025-26 season.
We will bring you key information and analysis on the biggest talking points in and around the Camp Nou, cutting through the noisy world of all things Barca with reporting you can trust.
The information contained in this article reflects multiple conversations with various sources at the Spanish champions, all of whom wanted to speak anonymously to protect relationships.
What’s the biggest talking point at Barcelona?
Saturday’s 2-1 win at Atletico Madrid was significant on several levels.
After Real Madrid lost by the same scoreline at Mallorca earlier in the day, victory means Hansi Flick’s defending champions are seven points clear at the top of La Liga with eight games left — including a Clasico on May 10.
Robert Lewandowski got the 87th-minute goal that sealed the three points — although he didn’t know all that much about it — and Lamine Yamal’s reaction was telling. He did not celebrate the winner, and after the final whistle, he went straight down the tunnel, visibly angry.
The 18-year-old left the pitch accompanied by goalkeeping coach Jose Ramon de la Fuente, with the two in a heated discussion.
In his post-match press conference, Flick played down the incident. “He tried everything to score the second and that’s fine,” the Barca head coach said of Yamal. “He tried everything. That’s why he was angry.”
IMAGEN DAZN 📸
Lamine Yamal y su reacción tras el partido contra el Atlético de Madrid#LALIGAenDAZN ⚽ pic.twitter.com/oetwEYVll8
— DAZN Fútbol (@DAZNFutbol) April 4, 2026
On Monday, a report in Spanish sports daily Mundo Deportivo suggested that Yamal was annoyed by De la Fuente’s instructions to him on the pitch, claiming he had been overwhelmed by communication from the sidelines. De La Fuente, who is no relation to Spain manager Luis de la Fuente, also has a responsibility for organising the team at set pieces.
Atletico are Barca’s next opponents, too. They meet in a Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Camp Nou on Wednesday.
Despite Saturday’s success, there is a keen awareness that the result means little for that European meeting. Diego Simeone’s side were reduced to 10 players following Nico Gonzalez’s sending off just before half-time at the Metropolitano, while they also rested Julian Alvarez and Ademola Lookman.
What else did we learn from Saturday’s match?
That Barcelona are still lacking a clinical edge in front of goal to finish games off. They had eight shots on target against Atletico, with Ferran Torres guilty of missing two good chances and Yamal unlucky to hit the outside of the post with a moment of magic in the box.
It is a key factor that will have to be improved in the Champions League. Lifting the trophy is the great hope of the Barcelona dressing room, even more so now that they appear to have the league under control.
That said, there were also plenty of positives. One was Dani Olmo’s performance. After Lewandowski played 90 minutes in both of Poland’s World Cup play-off games, Flick decided to leave the striker on the bench, along with Torres, Barca’s other main centre-forward. Olmo started instead, playing as a false nine, a position that suits him.
Joao Cancelo also put in a good display. The 31-year-old’s rapid adaptation since his January loan move has pleasantly surprised Flick, and he is putting in some excellent displays.
His blend of talent, creativity and unpredictability has really helped the team against opponents who sit deep in defence, as was the case at Atletico. He has established himself as the standout success of the winter transfer window, and Alejandro Balde, who on Saturday was an unused substitute as he made his return from a hamstring injury, has stiff competition at left-back.
What happened to Ronald Araujo and Marc Bernal?
Araujo came off in the 41st minute after feeling discomfort in his left hamstring. He asked to be substituted and was replaced by Marc Bernal.
However, the original plan was to rest Bernal. In the 63rd minute, Bernal threw himself to the ground, asking to be substituted due to a problem with his ankle.
Tests carried out on Sunday in Barcelona determined that Araujo has not suffered an injury and will be available for Wednesday’s Champions League match, while Bernal has a sprain in his left ankle. The 18-year-old La Masia graduate will miss the Atletico game, but might be back in time for Saturday’s local derby at home to Espanyol in La Liga.