Barcelona under Hansi Flick had an impressive start in La Liga with 33/36 maximum points. However, the decline with only 1 win in the last 6 matches has narrowed the gap with the teams behind to an alarming level.
Barca's sluggish performance has not been due to a lack of scoring opportunities. On the contrary, they still created many quality plays, even more than in the resounding 4-0 victory over Real Madrid in October. However, the lack of sharpness in front of goal and unlucky moments made Blaugrana pay the price.
The Catalan team scored more goals than expected in the first 11 matches but has since been ineffective with an actual goals index of 4 goals lower than expected. In addition, offside decisions with a "milimet" gap such as Robert Lewandowski's against Real Sociedad have turned the situation around.
flexibility in attack tactics has been a highlight for Hansi Flick since his move to Barcelona. At the beginning of the season, the Camp Nou team took full advantage of the width of the pitch with Alejandro Balde moving up from the left wing, while Lamine Yamal played the role of stretching the opponent's formation on the right wing.
This arrangement helps Barca exploit the central route with technical combinations. However, opponents are gradually realizing this. Leganes are a prime example, deploying a 5-4-1 formation to block the Blaugrana's familiar attacking lines.
Although it is not possible to completely disable their attacking power, this approach has caused Barcelona players to fall into physical disputes and forced them to make decisions faster. This reduces the quality of possession control of Lewandowski and his teammates.
Barcelona's defensive system with the offside trap is still a great support. To date, the Catalan team has caught an offside 105 times, 48 times more than any other team in Europe's top five leagues. However, when opponents research and make innovations in their playing style, Barca's system also exposes its flaws.
Unexpected passes such as Giovani Lo Celso's (Real Betis) situation or Real Sociedad's quick corner kick showed that Barcelona could easily be exploited if the opponent took advantage of the speed and space behind the defense.
Despite many difficulties, Barca still showed that they are maintaining superior defensive and attacking quality compared to their opponents. The expected goal difference of Hansi Flick's team is still the best in La Liga. This proves their ability to create superior opportunities compared to the number of goals conceded.
However, with a tight schedule and a young, inexperienced squad, the Camp Nou team needs to be more careful in how they operate their tactics. A more flexible defensive system can help reduce pressure on the defense and avoid unnecessary mistakes.
With the immediate approach of Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid and Barca playing more than 1 match, another stumble could make them a disadvantage in the championship race. Therefore, adaptation will be the key for Hansi Flick and his students to overcome this difficult time.
