Barcelona’s latest struggles within the latter a part of the 12 months might be attributed to a number of key components, with the workforce exhibiting a transparent dip in kind, significantly in La Liga.
One of many foremost points has been their incapacity to duplicate their early-season effectiveness in entrance of aim.
Initially of the marketing campaign, Barcelona had been medical, ending possibilities with precision, however this has since dropped off.
After a disappointing defeat to Atletico Madrid, a revealing statistic emerged that highlighted simply how a lot the workforce’s attacking energy has faltered.
Barcelona are underperforming
It should be famous that Barcelona initially overperformed of their attacking stats, scoring 15.5 extra targets than anticipated of their first 17 video games of the season, shifting from 39.5 anticipated targets (xG) to 55 targets scored.
Nonetheless, of their final eight matches, they’ve underperformed, scoring 3.3 fewer targets than anticipated.
Whereas their xG dropped from 20.3 to 17, the workforce continues to create clear scoring alternatives however has struggled to transform them into targets on the identical price as earlier within the season.
La diferencia de eficacia del Barça en función del Anticipated Aim (xG; mide las probabilidades de marcar y calidad de ocasiones)
Primeros 17 partidos
xG: 39,5 –> 55 GF (+15,5) 🎯
xA: 16,7 –> 16 GC (-0,7)
Últimos 8 partidos
xG: 20,3 –> 17 GF (-3,3) 🎯
xA: 10,7 –> 12 GC (+1,3)
— Fermín Suárez (@FerminSuarez03) December 21, 2024
It’s clear that Barcelona have been wasteful in entrance of aim. It the workforce had taken their possibilities, significantly in latest matches, they might have possible secured higher outcomes.
Regardless of creating loads of alternatives, Barcelona are unable to problem the opposition.
Protection is underneath stress too
Defensively, Barcelona’s kind has additionally declined. Throughout the identical interval, the workforce’s defensive efficiency has worsened, with the variety of targets they’ve conceded shifting from 0.7 fewer than anticipated to 1.3 greater than anticipated.
Whereas this transformation isn’t as drastic as their attacking stoop, it’s clear that Flick’s aspect has misplaced some management in key areas of the pitch, each offensively and defensively.
Because the workforce heads into the Christmas break, it’s evident that Barcelona have work to do. The gamers might want to use this time to recharge and refocus, addressing the problems which have seen their earlier kind slip.
The hope is that after they return, they will apply the mandatory modifications to get again on monitor and rediscover the momentum that made them a robust power earlier within the season.