On the eve of the Liga showdown between Real Betis and Barcelona, Hansi Flick heaped praise on Moroccan winger Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, who is in fine form with three goals in his last four matches.
Barcelona, unbeaten Liga leaders with 24 points from 8 games, travel to face Real Betis Sevilla, third in the table with 19 points, this Saturday 17 October 2026. A clash between the best attack in the league and one of the most solid defences in Andalusia, where Hansi Flick will have to contain a man he knows well: Abdessamad Ezzalzouli.
“An incredible player”
At his pre-match press conference, the German coach of Barça spoke about the attacking threat posed by the 24-year-old Moroccan. “He impresses me. I like the way he plays and his confidence in one-on-one situations. He has scored, and I can only say that he is an incredible player. He is fantastic,” said Flick, as reported by Fabrizio Romano.
The Catalan coach particularly praised the driving runs and one-on-one effectiveness of the Moroccan international. A compliment that is far from insignificant at a time when Barça are also preparing for their European showdown with Paris Saint-Germain, scheduled for Tuesday 20 October 2026 in the Champions League.
Three goals in four matches
The Atlas Lions winger is going through a purple patch: he has scored 3 goals in his last 4 club matches. This run follows on from a prolific 2025-2026 season, which he finished with 14 goals and 13 assists in 42 games in all competitions.
Having arrived in Seville after overcoming an injury at the start of the campaign, the former Barcelona academy player has become a key figure in Manuel Pellegrini’s team. The Chilean coach of Betis relies on his speed and his ability to beat his man to feed the Andalusian attack, drawing on the offensive depth of his squad to take on the leaders.
A busy schedule for Barça
For Barcelona, the trip to Andalusia opens a week with two faces. The Catalans, unbeaten since the start of the season, must first negotiate the trap set by Betis, third in the table with 19 points, before turning to their European date with PSG on Tuesday 20 October 2026.
For Betis, the challenge is to bring down the leaders at home. Betis, who are counting on the form of their Moroccan winger, could take advantage of the likely rotation made by Flick to preserve his players for the Champions League. Kick-off this Saturday 17 October 2026.