"FC Barcelona have been somewhat found out by opposition teams in defence this season, with the Catalans' high defensive line and offside trap not working as effectively as last term. The latest evidence of the same came on Tuesday night when Chelsea tore through the Blaugrana defence with ease on their way to a comfortable 3-0 victory in the UEFA Champions League at Stamford Bridge."
"Barça have lacked such a presence at the back this season, with Pau Cubarsi having had to step up as the leader despite being only 18 years old. Eric Garcia has done well when deployed at centre-back, but Flick has often had to move him out to right-back or use him in midfield, leaving Cubarsi without a reliable partner."
FC Barcelona's defence has been exposed this season as the high defensive line and offside trap have been less effective. Chelsea capitalised on these vulnerabilities to win 3-0 at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League. The summer exit of Inigo Martinez removed a leadership and tactical presence that had coordinated the offside trap and contributed ball-playing ability. Eighteen-year-old Pau Cubarsi has been forced to lead the backline, while Eric Garcia has been shifted between centre-back, right-back and midfield. Barcelona have prioritized signing a new centre-back for summer 2026, with Nico Schlotterbeck and Dayot Upamecano linked.
Read at Barca Universal
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]