Flick says winning LaLiga is Barcelona's top priority ahead of Atalanta clash

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick said winning LaLiga is his side's top priority this season as they prepare to face Atalanta in the Champions League on Wednesday. 

The Spanish club have already booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League after winning six of their seven matches in the league phase and are only three points behind table toppers Liverpool heading into the final matchday. 

However, they are third in the Spanish top flight and have a seven-point gap to leaders Real Madrid, while Atletico Madrid sit three points ahead. 

With the result against Europa League holders Atalanta inconsequential for Flick's side, he can afford to focus on the LaLiga meeting with Deportivo Alaves on Sunday. 

"For me, LaLiga is the most important thing we can win, and we can aspire to it all season long," the German tactician said. 

"Obviously, there are other competitions, such as the Super Cup, the Copa del Rey or the Champions League, which are the most difficult to win, because there are many great teams competing.

"We want to finish this first phase in second place because it's a good situation for the next steps in the competition."

Serie A side Atalanta, meanwhile, are seventh in the Champions League with 14 points and will need a win to ensure a direct berth in the last 16. 

"It's always difficult to play against Italian teams because they defend great," Flick said.

"Atalanta play one against one on the entire field. You're always under pressure in the build-up, and when they win the ball they're able to transition very fast. They always play with one contact, so we have to be ready for that."

Flick has won 10 of his 11 home Champions League games (W7, L1 with Bayern Munich and W3 with Barca). He also has both the best win percentage (91%) and best goals per game (3.1) of any manager with 10-plus home games in the competition.

Barca, however, are without defender Andreas Christensen, who suffered a calf injury during Monday's training session and will be out for around three weeks.

Flick has also made his intentions clear about who he trusts as his number one goalkeeper, favouring Wojciech Szczesny over Inaki Pena after both duelled for the role following the season-ending injury to Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

"Number one, a goalkeeper, is a special position. So yes, I can say it was one of the most difficult decisions I had to make since I've been here," said Flick.

"I know that when I say something good about Wojciech, it seems that maybe Inaki is weaker, but I don't like this. My job is to make a decision.

"For me, Szczesny is an experienced player, he also has a great personality. But both are great goalkeepers, and I have decided together with my staff to go with Szczesny."

Atalanta have scored two-plus goals in each of their last six away Champions League games (W3 D2 L1) and average 2.4 goals per game on the road. 

But the Italians are winless in their last five games against Spanish opposition (D1 L4), since beating Valencia in both legs of their 2019-20 last-16 tie.