Rodri needed a rest for Barcelona ahead of Clasico, says Flick

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick revealed that Rodri will be in the starting lineup for Sunday's Clasico match against Real Madrid, following his substitution at half-time during the team's 4-2 Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday. Flick explained that the decision was made after speaking with Rodri, who had been playing a significant number of minutes for both the national team and Barcelona in recent games.

The coach deemed the move as a positive decision, hoping that Rodri would be fresh for the crucial Clasico showdown. The match ended with PSG's Vitinha scoring the winning goal, putting the defending European champions ahead 2-1. Flick, while acknowledging both teams' efforts, highlighted the mistakes, particularly in possession, that led to their downfall.

He emphasized that October was not a time to secure titles, but rather a chance to learn and improve for the upcoming Champions League final in June. The absence of injured players Dani Olmo, Ousmane Dembele, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from Barcelona's lineup added to their challenges ahead.