Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News
Barcelona’s defensive technique underneath Hansi Flick has been daring but extremely efficient this season.
In line with Mundo Deportivo, the workforce has efficiently caught opponents offside a staggering 201 occasions throughout 36 official matches.
That is a rare quantity, particularly when in comparison with Tottenham, the second-best workforce on this side, who’ve managed simply 101 offsides in 39 video games—100 fewer than Barcelona.
A take a look at the numbers
To this point this season, Barça have performed 23 La Liga matches, eight within the Champions League, three within the Copa del Rey, and two within the Spanish Tremendous Cup. Remarkably, solely as soon as in these 36 matches did an opponent handle to keep away from being caught offside.
This occurred throughout their La Liga conflict in opposition to Actual Betis on matchday 16, the place Betis equalised in stoppage time.
GroupMatchesOffsidesFC Barcelona36201Tottenham39101Liverpool3897Aston Villa3696Athletic Bilbao3495
In that match, Betis managed to bypass Barcelona’s offside entice totally, one thing no different opponent has achieved this season.
A high-risk manoeuvre
Barcelona’s excessive line of defense is a calculated danger, because it requires impeccable timing and coordination. Whereas it has labored of their favour on most events, it has additionally proven its vulnerabilities.
A transparent instance was throughout their current match in Seville. Barcelona had simply taken the lead via Robert Lewandowski when Saul Niguez broke via their defensive setup.
The midfielder delivered a exact move to Eduardo Vargas, who completed the transfer to equalise. Ronald Araujo was barely behind, enjoying Vargas onside, which led to the aim being counted.
Nonetheless, Barcelona adjusted their defensive self-discipline within the second half, catching Dodi Lukebakio offside.
Regardless of occasional setbacks, Barcelona stay dedicated to their offside entice. The tactic has been a key a part of their defensive method, and there’s no indication that they are going to abandon it.
