For the first time in this campaign, the Catalans have fielded the same backline in three consecutive matches against Girona, Olympiacos, and Real Madrid - three crucial fixtures in Barcelona's calendar. In each of the three matches, Flick relied on the defensive line of Jules Kounde, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, and Alejandro Balde - giving an indication that this could well be his preferred defence for the 2025/26 season.