Hansi Flick says Barcelona are ‘often the better team’ against Atletico Madrid, calls for bravery to turn around UEFA Champions League quarter-final

But Flick remains confident that his team can book their spot in the semi-finals, pointing to recent performances against Diego Simeone’s side.

“Mentality and attitude are important,” he said in his pre-match press conference. “Tomorrow, every person is important, every positive thing is important.

“So we have to believe that we can do it, and I have the feeling the team is on the right track. Of course, it has to do with playing football, defend well, but to be brave in attack. This is normal.

“We have the quality and in the games against Atletico, we were often the better team.”

Tuesday’s game will be the sixth time Barcelona and Atletico will have faced one another this season.

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Barcelona have won both La Liga clashes, while Atletico prevailed in their thrilling two-legged Copa del Rey semi-final clash earlier this year.

Atletico won emphatically 4-0 at home in the first leg and Barcelona’s attempted comeback in the second leg fell just short, winning 3-0 at the Camp Nou as Atletico booked their spot in the final on aggregate.

Their most recent encounter came in last week’s quarter-final first leg in Barcelona, where goals from Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth gave Atletico a shock victory on the road.

Barcelona will be without 19-year-old centre-back Pau Cubarsi for the second leg after he was shown a straight red card last time out.

But despite the situation they find themselves in, Flick is not ruling out a miraculous comeback in Madrid, demanding ”bravery” from his side.

“I have a feeling it will be completely different from previous matches against them because the atmosphere in the stadium will be incredible,” he said.

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“The fans know what they need and it will be tough for us. But I believe in my team and what we can make happen and it’s possible. Why not? That’s what we need to focus on.

“I know we’re playing against Atletico, a team with very good players, and we’ll need to defend very strongly but also be brave in attack, to attack, press and take advantage of every opportunity.

“If you look at the last match, that was perhaps the big difference between them and us. Maybe [Tuesday] will be completely different, and that would make me happy.“

In the league, Barcelona have a nine-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of the table.

Speaking prior to Tuesday’s game, Yamal echoed his head coach’s sentiment by stressing the tie is far from over.

“We’re eager to reach the semi-finals and we’ll give everything to do it” the 18-year-old told reporters on Monday. “We have to play our way, with intensity but without giving up our style.”

The winger added: “A comeback is no miracle. We start 2–0 down but I trust my team. We’re convinced it’s not over and that a comeback is very possible.”