Barcelona
Is this the end? Barça’s game plan discovered by opponents
Barça’s incredible offside game - that saw them catch their opponents out 7 times per 90 - seems to have been rumbled.
Barça’s strategy of catching opponents offside has dropped from an average of 7 times per game to just 2.5 in their last two matches. Opponents are catching on.
Flick’s Barça have hit a rough patch in LaLiga, with a draw at Balaídos on Saturday and a loss to Real Sociedad at the Reale Arena before the international break.
A hallmark of Flick’s Barça has been their ability to catch opponents offside. Before the match against Real Sociedad, Barça averaged 7 offsides per game, peaking at 12 in their clash with Real Madrid—the highest in any match this season.
However, against Celta yesterday, they managed to catch the opposition offside only twice. This allowed Celta to take 15 shots, with 8 on target. Celta frequently caught Barça on the counterattack, ultimately securing a point despite some controversial refereeing decisions.
Worrying signs for Barça?
Flick’s system relies heavily on the offside trap; when it fails, opponents get numerous scoring opportunities. On Saturday, Barça faced seven shots on target in the second half—the most they’ve conceded in a second half since April 2017 against Real Madrid (8).
The loss to Real Sociedad was similarly troubling. The Basque side won, falling into the offside trap just three times, and managed 14 shots, with six on target. Barça’s success heavily depends on how often they catch their opponents offside. In their loss to Osasuna, they did manage to impose their game, catching the opposition offside 10 times.
If Madrid win their game in hand (postponed due to the DANA storm), they will be just one point behind Flick’s team in the LaLiga standings. Despite a strong start to the season, doubts are beginning to surface. It seems unlikely that Flick and Barça will change their playing style, but opponents are starting to figure out the ‘trap’ that brought them so much success early in the season. The absence of Lamine Yamal has also been a significant factor in these recent setbacks.
Original article written by Daniel L. Peinado, translated with the assistance of AI and edited by Joe Brennan.
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