In a turn that has turned on social networks and sports holders, FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick unleashed a controversy storm after the raffle of the UEFA Champions League League 2025/26, held on August 29, 2025 at the Grimaldi Forum of Monaco. In a press conference after the event, Flick accused Real Madrid of benefiting from a “suspiciously favorable” raffle, stating that the merengue club “only knows how to cheat” to ensure an easy way in the competition. The statement, loaded with indignation, occurs after a raffle that gave Real Madrid rivals such as Kazakhstan’s Almity and Newcastle United, considered less demanding than Barcelona clashes against teams such as Chelsea and PSG. However, the serene and cunning response of Jude Bellingham, star of Real Madrid, has changed the course of the narrative, generating enthusiasm among white fans.
The raffle of the Champions League, which assigned each team eight rivals of the four bombs, avoided clashes between clubs from the same country, which gave rise to speculations about the equity of the process. Flick, visibly frustrated, said that Real Madrid seemed to have been favored by a “recurring pattern” in the European draws, hinting external influences in UEFA. “It’s amazing how they always end with the most comfortable rivals. This is not a coincidence, it is a shame for football,” said the German coach, Marca reported. His words quickly resonated on social networks, with Culés fans supporting his position and accusing Real Madrid of manipulating the system, while others, such as the user of X @kykyszn, said alleged historical connections between the white club and the referees, remembering the Negreira case.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, did not stay with crossed hands. Jude Bellingham, the English midfielder who has become a key figure for whites, responded with a calm that contrasted with Flick’s fury. In an interview with TNT Sports after the raffle, Bellingham said: “We do not control the raffle, we play against those who touch us. If Barça thinks that this is easy, to come to play in Almaty or in St. James’ Park. Football does not win in the raffle, he wins on the court. ” His reply, elegant and forceful, was celebrated by Madrid fans, who flooded X with messages of support, such as @realmadrid: “Bellingham Calla Bocas!”The English response not only disarmed Flick’s accusations, but also reinforced the confidence of the followers in the competitive mentality of the team.
The controversy is not new in the rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid, which transcends the sports and feeds on favoritism and conspiracy narratives. In 2018, ESPN was criticized for suggesting that Real Madrid had rigged a Champions League raffle against Ajax, an accusation that the club denied categorically. More recently, Real Madrid TV has fueled the flames by questioning the impartiality of referees such as Sánchez Martínez, linking it to the Negreira scandal, where Barcelona was accused of undue payments to an ex -president of the Technical Committee of Referees. Although there are no concrete evidence that supports Flick’s claims about the raffle, his explosive statement reflects the frustration of a Barcelona that, despite its resurgence under the command of Flick, faces a more complicated path in the Champions League.
El Real Madrid, mientras tanto, mantiene su enfoque en el terreno de juego. Carlo Ancelotti, at a press conference on August 28, fell importance to the accusations, stating: “Hansi is a great coach, but sometimes the emotions surpass us. We will see each other in the final, if we arrive.” La confianza del italiano se basa en la solidez de su plantilla, con Bellingham como líder emocional y táctico. However, the Spanish press, such as the confidential, points out that Flick’s words could galvanize Barcelona, ​​which seeks to recover his European dominance after years of stumbling.
As the Champions League League phase approaches, the rivalry between both clubs promises more voltage chapters. For now, Bellingham has won this verbal battle, but the true verdict will arrive in the grass, where Real Madrid must demonstrate that his “luck” in the draw does not define his destiny.
