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LaLiga setbacks must provide lessons for Barca youngsters, says Flick
Barcelona visit Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday, having experienced something of a slide in LaLiga of late.
Barcelona's young team must learn from their recent setbacks in LaLiga ahead of a tough Champions League assignment at Borussia Dortmund, says coach Hansi Flick.
On Saturday, Barca were pegged back in a 2-2 draw at Real Betis, allowing Real Madrid to cut their lead at the summit to two points, with Los Blancos having a game in hand.
That was far from the ideal result ahead of Wednesday's clash with 2023-24 Champions League runners-up Dortmund, but Flick is not overly concerned by Barca's slump.
"In the end it all depends on how the season ends. We are convinced," Flick told reporters.
"We have to play the way we want to play and that's how we'll continue to improve. We are very clear about that. We are a very young team and that's normal.
"We have lost two points that have hurt us a lot but we have to learn from our mistakes. We are very united."
Barcelona have only won two of six games in LaLiga since they crushed rivals Real Madrid 4-0 in October, though they are flying high in the Champions League with four wins from five outings.
Wednesday's match at the Westfalenstadion will have added significance for their striker Robert Lewandowski, who spent four seasons at Dortmund and won two Bundesliga titles with the club.
The Polish striker has been in remarkable form this season, scoring 23 goals in 21 appearances across all competitions.
Asked if the Blaugrana had become overly reliant on Lewandowski, Flick said: "We need Robert, but Robert needs the team. A player alone can never win a game by himself.
"I think when you look at how many goals he has scored so far, you can see that he is very lucky to have this team around him.
"But he has got a lot of quality as well. In the box is where he is most lethal and important... At the moment he is in a great form, great phase."
Barca may be able to call upon Ronald Araujo, with the defender in the squad for the first time since suffering a muscle injury while playing for Uruguay at the Copa America in July.
However, Flick stopped short of providing a timeframe for his full return, adding: "We're all happy that Ronald is back. It's fun to have him with us in the training sessions.
"He's a great presence and the team needs him. He motivates his players and also me, the coach. I like him, I like what I see from him. He's a player that gives his all.
"We will see how he's tomorrow and how he will evolve over the course of the next few days and next weekend. I can't say anything now."