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8 Oct 2024 | 00.00
La Liga
PUBLICIDAD
FC Barcelona, led by Hansi Flick, has started the season in a great way, achieving 24 out of 27 possible points in LaLiga and positioning themselves at the top of the table with a three-point lead over Real Madrid with Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Jr, and Carlo Ancelotti.
The success in this early season is not only due to their impressive offensive quality, with the three players who have scored goals at the beginning of this season (Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Lamine Yamal), but also to a solid defensive structure, something they had lacked in previous campaigns. The Blaugrana team has shown an efficient defensive approach based on intense pressure and rigorous control of spaces (similar to Flick's Bayern), making them the team that has caught opponents offside the most this season, with an impressive total of 62 times.
One of the pillars of this defensive system is the tactical organization that the German coach has implemented since his arrival. Barcelona has adopted a defense that combines a medium-high block with a very advanced defensive line, allowing players to press quickly and cut off opponents' advances, demanding a high level from central defenders such as Pau Cubarsí and Iñigo Martínez. This strategy forces opposing teams to resort to long balls, triggering Barça's offside trap, consistently catching rival forwards in an offside position—a risky approach that requires high attention but has been working perfectly so far.
This figure is not a coincidence but the result of a well-developed defensive plan. To put this number into context, teams like Brighton with 31 offside calls and Fulham with 27 are far from matching Barcelona's statistics. In Spain, Osasuna and Athletic Club have triggered 26 and 25 offside situations, respectively. The difference is huge.
This approach aims not only to stop opposing attacks but also to control the midfield. By closing the central lane, Barcelona forces rivals to seek less effective options on the wings or resort to long balls, where Barça's defenders activate the offside trap. As a result, rival teams are constantly frustrated, unable to create clear goal-scoring opportunities.
FC Barcelona's ability to neutralize opponents through this defensive strategy has been key in understanding this top-tier start ahead of clubs that made significant investments like Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid. Hansi Flick, who has greatly improved the team compared to the previous season, has implemented a system that not only ensures control of the game with the ball but also control of space, allowing the Blaugrana team to maintain their leadership position in LaLiga.
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El secreto de la mejor defensiva del Barcelona de Flick