Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick sat down in front of the media ahead of his sides match against Rayo Vallecano on Monday at Camp Nou for the third matchday of La Liga.
Rodri made his Barcelona debut in the team’s 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish League on Thursday. Barcelona’s match was supposed to feature a tribute to Spain’s World Cup champions but instead it became an act of support for the “estelada” flag, Catalonia’s pro-independence symbol. Rodri, signed from Manchester City after captaining Spain to the World Cup title, came off the bench in the 62nd minute to a warm welcome from the Camp Nou crowd.
Rodri is one of eight World Cup winners in Barcelona’s squad, but the planned tribute for them ahead of the match didn’t take place after one of the club’s fans had an estelada flag taken away from him by police before the team’s game at Elche last weekend. He confronted the officers and ended up being hit and detained.
Instead of the tribute, an act supporting the estelada organized by a local group took place with Camp Nou laden with some 10,000 small flags that were handed to fans. Raphinha and Fermín López scored a goal in each half to give Barcelona its second straight win to start the defence of their Spanish league title.
Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick sat down in front of the media ahead of his sides match against Rayo Vallecano on Monday at Camp Nou for the third matchday of La Liga.
Rodri made his Barcelona debut in the team’s 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish League on Thursday. Barcelona’s match was supposed to feature a tribute to Spain’s World Cup champions but instead it became an act of support for the “estelada” flag, Catalonia’s pro-independence symbol. Rodri, signed from Manchester City after captaining Spain to the World Cup title, came off the bench in the 62nd minute to a warm welcome from the Camp Nou crowd.
Rodri is one of eight World Cup winners in Barcelona’s squad, but the planned tribute for them ahead of the match didn’t take place after one of the club’s fans had an estelada flag taken away from him by police before the team’s game at Elche last weekend. He confronted the officers and ended up being hit and detained.
Instead of the tribute, an act supporting the estelada organized by a local group took place with Camp Nou laden with some 10,000 small flags that were handed to fans. Raphinha and Fermín López scored a goal in each half to give Barcelona its second straight win to start the defence of their Spanish league title.
