Looking back at Barcelona in 2025: A magnificent comeback and absolute dominance

Barcelona fans can proudly reflect on a historic 2025, where the "Blaugrana" truly revived under the masterful guidance of coach Hansi Flick.

After years of financial crisis, mounting debts, and declining performance, Blaugrana under Hansi Flick’s leadership has genuinely been reborn. The team secured a domestic treble in the 2024/25 season (28th La Liga title, 32nd Copa del Rey, 15th Supercopa de España), while maintaining a 4-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of La Liga 2025/26 following a 2-0 victory against Villarreal on December 21.

This year was defined by a characteristic high pressing style, explosive attacking play (169 goals in 60 official matches), and spectacular comebacks, confirming Barcelona’s restoration as the kings of Spanish football.

10. “Exhausting” efforts to repay debts

According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona is burdened with approximately 1.45 billion euros in debt, forcing the club to boost commercial activities to improve finances. One proposed option is to hold a friendly match in Casablanca (Morocco) right after the Villarreal game at the end of 2025, replacing plans to travel to Peru due to concerns over travel distance and rest time.

Although the management views this as a necessary revenue-raising measure, coach Hansi Flick is unhappy, believing that adding more friendlies only increases player fatigue amid an injury crisis. This plan has sparked debate about whether Barca is prioritizing financial matters over sporting performance.

9. Fiery El Clásico

In the early hours of October 27, Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-1 in the 262nd El Clásico, but the focus was on the post-match tensions. Dani Carvajal provoked Lamine Yamal, leading to a heated argument between players from both sides and nearly causing a brawl. Referee Cesar Soto issued a red card to Andriy Lunin and six yellow cards to players from both teams despite the match having ended.

The conflict stemmed from Yamal’s provocative comments and actions mocking Real Madrid before the game, making him a target after a subdued performance. Vinicius Junior reacted strongly, escalating tensions even in the tunnel area. The incident intensified the rivalry without resulting in serious fights.

8. Lewandowski reaches 100 goals for Barca

Robert Lewandowski reached the milestone of 100 goals for Barcelona by the end of the 2024/25 season, marking a significant achievement since the Polish striker joined the Catalan club. This historic goal came during a crucial phase of the season, when Barca was stretched across multiple competitions, further proving Lewandowski’s class, consistency, and composure in decisive moments. Despite being over 30 years old, the forward continues to maintain an impressive scoring rate, serving as a vital attacking pillar and a professional role model for the club’s younger players.

7. Lamine Yamal and the girlfriend controversy

In 2025, Lamine Yamal attracted attention not only for his outstanding on-field performance but also due to a controversy surrounding his relationship with his girlfriend. Images and posts circulated on social media suggesting that Yamal’s girlfriend had an overly close relationship with another person, sparking suspicions of betrayal.

The issue quickly caused a public uproar, especially as Yamal showed subtle signs like unfollowing, deleting shared photos, and posting personal messages on Instagram. Under pressure from media and fans, the 2007-born player did not make an official statement, while his girlfriend denied some of the allegations.

6. Champions League: Inconsistent form

In the 2025/26 Champions League, Barcelona ranked approximately 11th-14th in the group stage, suffering some heavy defeats but still reaching the quarterfinals and advancing deep (losing the semifinals to Inter Milan 6-7 on aggregate over two legs). The team remains among the top scorers in the competition (26 goals), promising a brighter future in 2026.

5. Return to Camp Nou and Flick’s signature style

Camp Nou officially reopened in November 2025 with around 45,000 seats, marking the home stadium’s return after two years of renovation. Flick’s high pressing and risky high defensive line led to seven comebacks in the 2025/26 season, despite defensive vulnerabilities. In summer 2025, Barcelona avoided big spending, focusing instead on retaining the core squad.

4. Key players shining

Under coach Hansi Flick, several Barcelona key players have left a strong mark in the 2025/26 season. Pedri remains the midfield heartbeat, orchestrating play and making a clear difference whenever on the pitch.

Raphinha has become a bright spot in attack with 7 goals and 3 assists in 11 La Liga matches, greatly contributing to the team’s positive run. Lamine Yamal, despite being only 18 and affected by injuries, ended 2025 with 21 assists across all competitions, averaging one assist every 83 minutes played.

In defense, Eric Garcia surprised as the only player to appear in all Barcelona matches this season, highlighting his irreplaceable role. In goal, newcomer Joan Garcia is gradually proving his worth with a series of crucial saves, helping Barca maintain stability in the title race.

3. Dominance over Real Madrid

In the calendar year 2025, Barcelona showed clear superiority over Real Madrid by winning 3 of the 4 official El Clásico matches. The Catalan club triumphed 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup in January, 3-2 in the Copa del Rey final in April, and 4-3 in the La Liga match in May, notably staging a comeback from 0-2 down with goals from Eric García, Lamine Yamal, and a brace from Raphinha.

Overall, across four encounters in the year, Barcelona scored 15 goals and conceded 9, demonstrating tactical dominance and mental strength at critical moments. Although they lost 1-2 to Real Madrid in the October La Liga match, with Mbappé and Bellingham scoring for the Royal team, previous victories showed Barcelona clearly held the psychological edge in direct confrontations.

2. Dominating La Liga 2025

Barcelona ended 2025 with a remarkable offensive record, scoring in 37 consecutive La Liga matches, equaling one of the longest scoring streaks in club history. During this run, the Catalan side netted 101 goals, showcasing an outstanding attacking efficiency. Across all competitions, Barca played 60 official matches in 2025, achieving 48 wins, 6 draws, 6 losses, and scoring a total of 169 goals, the fifth-highest scoring tally in club history.

By the end of the calendar year, Barcelona led La Liga 2025/26, maintaining an impressive domestic form. The 2-0 win over Villarreal in the last match of the year—with goals from Raphinha via penalty and Lamine Yamal—further affirmed Blaugrana’s status in the title race.

1. Historic domestic treble

Barcelona completed the domestic treble in the 2024/25 season, their first since 2018/19. They clinched the La Liga title on May 15, 2025, with a 2-0 win over Espanyol, thanks to goals from Lamine Yamal and Fermín López. The 32nd Copa del Rey came from a dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory over Real Madrid on April 26 at Estadio de La Cartuja (Seville), with Jules Koundé scoring the decisive goal. The year began with a 5-2 Supercopa de España win against Real Madrid on January 12 in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), where despite goalkeeper Szczęsny’s red card, the team scored 4 goals in the first half, sending a strong message of their comeback.