Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick celebrated his 100th victory in charge of the Catalan club on Saturday night, watching his side dismantle Deportivo Alavés 6-1 at the Spotify Camp Nou on Matchday 11 to reclaim top spot in LaLiga.
The emphatic victory sees the German tactician reach the century mark in just 131 official matches across all competitions, boasting a 76.3% win rate and making him the second-fastest manager in Barcelona history to achieve the feat. Only Luis Enrique reached 100 victories in fewer outings (126), with Flick surpassing Pep Guardiola, who required 139 games to hit the milestone.
Flick also becomes only the eighth manager in the club's history to record 100 wins, joining Johan Cruyff, Pep Guardiola, Frank Rijkaard, Luis Enrique, Ernesto Valverde, Rinus Michels, and Terry Venables. Across his 131 matches since taking charge in May 2024, Flick has compiled a record of 100 wins, 10 draws, and 21 defeats, capturing two LaLiga titles, two Spanish Super Cups, and one Copa del Rey.
Raphinha, Yamal, and Fermín López Power First-Half Blitz
Entering Saturday's fixture on the back of consecutive defeats against Paris Saint-Germain (4-2 in the UEFA Champions League) and Real Madrid (2-1 in El Clásico), Flick was also forced to navigate a defensive injury crisis. With Jules Koundé, Andreas Christensen, Eric García, and Xavi Espart all sidelined, Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong was deployed as a makeshift center-back alongside Pau Cubarsí, while 18-year-old Brian Fariñas earned a rare start.
Despite the reshuffled backline, Barcelona settled the contest before halftime. Raphinha opened the scoring in the 7th minute from a Fermín López pass before López doubled the advantage in the 22nd minute after being teed up by Lamine Yamal. Raphinha added his second of the night in the 40th minute from another López assist, and Yamal curled home from outside the box in the 45th minute off a João Cancelo pass to send the hosts into the break leading 4-0.
Yamal completed his brace in the 63rd minute following a VAR check after latching onto a through ball from substitute Gabriel Jesus. Fellow substitute Anthony Gordon made it 6-0 in the 80th minute off a Rodri assist before Mariano Díaz pulled back a late consolation goal for Alavés in the 83rd minute.
Flick Prioritizes Team Response Over Personal Landmark
Asked in his post-match press conference whether he was aware of the 100-win milestone prior to kickoff, Flick acknowledged the landmark but stressed the importance of responding to the losses against PSG and Real Madrid.
"Yes, of course I knew that," Flick said. "In the end, the most important thing for me was to secure the win. That was extremely important for us, especially after the last two matches. We imposed our control during the first half, and we created chances by exploiting the small spaces they left for us."
Reflecting on his favorite victory among his first 100 wins in the Barcelona dugout, the German pointed to his maiden derby triumph over Real Madrid.
"I don't usually look to the past, but I am very happy," Flick added. "Was this the best match? Winning the first Clásico in Madrid was something wonderful. I remember it with positive feelings, and this win tonight will be good for the coming weeks."
The result lifts Barcelona back to the summit of the LaLiga table on 30 points from 11 matches, sitting two points clear of second-placed Atlético Madrid (28) and six ahead of Real Madrid (24), who hold a game in hand. Barcelona return to action on Tuesday, November 3, when they host Aston Villa at the Spotify Camp Nou in the UEFA Champions League (8:00 PM GMT).
Fan Reactions (0)