There is still one last glimmer of hope, but it is clearly fading fast: as FC Barcelona announced on Friday morning, Hansi Flick’s assistant Marcus Sorg will take over the press conference ahead of the Clasico.
Marcus Sorg is known to enjoy the limelight only to a limited extent, but ahead of one of the most important games of the season, the 59-year-old has little choice. As FC Barcelona announced on Friday morning, the former head coach of SC Freiburg will hold the press conference ahead of Sunday’s eagerly awaited Clasico at arch-rivals Real Madrid.
Background: The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) handed Sorg’s boss Hansi Flick a one-match ban after he received a yellow-red card in the recent La Liga home game against Girona (2-1) – which, of all things, affects the prestigious match against Real. Because Sorg will now be the main person in charge at the legendary Bernabeu, he will also take his place at the matchday press conference.
However, the Catalans are still keeping a back door open. FC Barcelona has lodged an appeal against Flick’s suspension with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, so in theory there is still a chance for Sunday. But the remaining hope is clearly fading.
Both Sorg games in the leading role were lost
Sorg is already familiar with the big stage: he has replaced Flick twice in La Liga so far. The “problem”? Both games were actually lost. On December 15, 2024, Barcelona surprisingly slipped up at home against bottom-of-the-table CD Leganes (0-1), and six days later, the Blaugrana lost 2-1 to Atletico Madrid in front of their own fans despite taking the lead.
Now the Bernabeu awaits, and with it a match that is also immensely important in sporting terms: a win would see the Catalans overtake Real, while a defeat would leave them five points behind the leaders from the capital.
