For over two months, Barcelona have taken pleasure in catching their opponents offside numerous occasions in every match.
Hansi Flick’s technique of deploying a excessive backline was at all times going to be a dangerous one however had confirmed infallible within the early components of the season.
The top of this technique got here on the Santiago Bernabeu, when Barça managed to catch Actual Madrid offside on 12 events, with Kylian Mbappe left red-faced by his failure to spring the lure.
The Blaugrana caught Los Blancos offside eight occasions solely within the first time – their highest variety of offside calls in a 45-minute interval of a La Liga match in 11 years.
Nonetheless, this daring tactic, the place every thing should align completely and harmoniously, implies that your complete workforce should stay absolutely centered. With out errors. And this has faltered up to now month.
Whereas there are numerous causes for Barcelona’s latest downturn, some of the evident is their line of defense.
Stats counsel offside lure now much less efficient
Numbers not often lie. The offside statistics from Barcelona’s first 16 matches this season in comparison with the latest 4 paint a starkly totally different image.
Within the first 16 official video games, the La Liga leaders caught their opponents offside 108 occasions, a mean of 6.75 per match. This was indicative of the immense confidence, focus, and depth of the workforce.
Las Palmas beat Barça’s offside lure pretty simply. (Picture by Alex Caparros/Getty Pictures)
Nonetheless, within the final 4 official matches, this common has dropped to only 4. A complete of 16 offside calls.
The dearth of the identical stage of effectiveness and focus was laid naked within the latest match in opposition to Las Palmas, the place the opponents’ fast transitions uncovered Barcelona’s defence far too simply.
Main as much as Fabio Silva’s match-winning purpose at Montjuic, Diego Martinez’s aspect superior into the world with simply three touches, effortlessly getting behind Inigo Martinez.
That is one thing that Flick & co. should work on getting proper as they face a frightening schedule arising forward of them this month.