Flick looking forward to Ballon d'Or debate ending

Barcelona boss Hansi Flick is looking forward to the news cycle surrounding the Ballon d'Or being over and done with.

Lamine Yamal has insisted he deserves to win this year's award, ahead of Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe.

Yamal's Barca team-mates Gabriel Jesus and Rodri have come out in support of the 19-year-old, too.

And while Flick says all of Barca are behind Yamal's Ballon d'Or bid, he is eager for the talk surrounding the award to stop.

Ahead of Barca's LaLiga clash with Racing Santander, Flick said: "It's not easy. I'm only talking about Lamine, not other players. He's an honest guy, and I think it's good that he's so self-confident.

"Maybe I'd prefer he didn't do this [speak in the media], but the Ballon d'Or is important to the players. He's honest, it's his feeling, and I support him, of course.

"This situation is always like this. Right now you can't win titles, only matches. You have to work hard now to reap the rewards later.

"For me, the most important thing is winning titles with the team, but individual titles are important too. And you only win those by working hard.

"He's young. He's honest, he's self-confident, and I like him. And this is important to him. I'll support him because it's amazing to have a player like that; everyone wants to see him in the stadium, and they murmur when he takes on a man one-on-one, or one-on-three.

"He believes he deserves it. I know there are a huge number of top players and it's not easy. [The Ballon d'Or] will be decided, and I'll be happy when they've made their decision.

"He's our player. He's playing well, and that's the situation. I agree with that. When you see him train, you can understand why we support him."

Yamal has scored six goals in LaLiga 2026-27, his best return after the first five games of a league season.

He has scored in three consecutive games but has never done so in four in a row in the competition.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Barcelona - Raphinha

Raphinha has been involved in nine goals in LaLiga 2026-27 (six goals and three assists), the most by a player after the club's first five games of a season in the competition since Lionel Messi in 2017-18 (10, nine goals and one assist).

Racing Santander - Yassir Zabiri

Zabiri has scored five goals in five games in LaLiga 2026-27, a record for a Racing Santander player after the first five matches of a campaign in the competition in the 21st century.

MATCH PREDICTION: BARCELONA WIN

Barcelona are unbeaten in their last 17 LaLiga games against Racing (W14 D3), winning the last seven and keeping a clean sheet in the last five; this is their longest winning run against them in the top flight.

In fact, the Blaugrana are the opponent against whom Racing have suffered the most away defeats (P44 W2 D5 L37) and conceded the most away goals (133) in their LaLiga history.

They were also the last opponent against whom Racing conceded eight or more goals in a single game in the competition (8-0 in April 1962).

Barca have won their opening five games in LaLiga 2026-27 and on four of the five occasions they won their first six games of a season in the competition in the 21st century, they ended up as champions, with the exception of 2013-14 (second).

Racing have picked up seven points after five games in the 2026-27 LaLiga season (W2 D1 L2), their highest tally at this stage of a campaign in the competition since 2005-06 (seven points, W2 D1 L2).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Barcelona - 83.4%

Draw - 10.2%

Racing Santander - 6.4%