Barcelona faces a crucial test under Flick

Barcelona is preparing for a crucial stage in its season under German coach Hansi Flick, as the team awaits a busy schedule of tough matches after returning from the September international break, having collected seven points out of a possible nine in the first three rounds of the Spanish league . Barça will play six matches in just three weeks between La Liga and the Champions League, in what is considered the first real test of Flick's project in his second season. The league will start, but the anticipated summit will come on September 18 when the team faces Newcastle United at St. James' Park. This match will mark the club's first appearance in European competition this season, away from home, as requested by the club from UEFA . Barcelona's first continental match at home will be against Paris Saint-Germain on October 1. It will be a tough match against the defending Champions League holders, who are packed with stars. Barça will be forced to demonstrate defensive solidity and offensive sharpness if they are to compete for the top spot in their group . In La Liga, Barcelona also faces a series of tough matches, starting with a match against Valencia on September 14, a match whose venue has yet to be determined due to ongoing renovation work at Spotify Camp Nou and delays in obtaining necessary permits. The team will then enter a tough race, playing three matches in one week: the first against Getafe on September 21, followed by an away match against Real Oviedo after a 24-year absence, before concluding the month with a highly anticipated match against Real Sociedad, scheduled for the end of September . In addition to the pressure of matches, Flick faces complex issues within the team, most notably the absence of left-back Alejandro Balde due to a hamstring injury, which will force the coach to rely on the duo Gerard Martín and Joffrey Torrentes to compensate for this influential absence . The German coach also faces a dilemma in choosing his central defender duo. In the first two league matches, he relied on Ronald Araujo and Pau Coparsi, before making changes against Rayo Vallecano, bringing on Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen to capitalize on their ability to come out with the ball and organize the offside line, while Jules Kounde returned to the right-back position . There are also doubts in the attacking midfield position, as Flick has tried three players in this role since the beginning of the season: Fermin Lopez, Raphinha, and Dani Olmo, without settling on a permanent option. Up front, Flick has relied primarily on Ferran Torres, but Robert Lewandowski is gradually regaining his place, despite previously acknowledging that his role this season will be reduced in terms of minutes and that he needs to manage his effort wisely .