The high defensive line strategy of Hansi Flick’s team causing the opposing attackers to go offside caused many casualties.
No team has adapted as well to the new VAR technology as FC Barcelona led by Hansi Flick. Indeed, this team plays with a very advanced offensive line, which can be up to 50 meters from the opposing goal, which very often leads the opposing offensive lines into an offside position. This tactic was implemented from the start of the season, but it was particularly highlighted in the match against Bayern Munich, where Harry Kane scored an offside goal which was later ruled out. Real Madrid, under Carlo Ancelotti, also suffered from this strategy, with two Kylian Mbappé goals ruled out for offside. In total, during their 15 matches (12 in La Liga and 3 in the Champions League), Hansi Flick’s team caused 99 offsides, an extraordinary average of 6.6 per match, a record at this stage of the competition.
Several victims
In the last six matches, eight players have been intentionally trapped by this tactic, namely Monteiro of Young Boys, Toni Martinez and Mourino of Deportivo Alavés, Lubeka of Sevilla, Harry Kane of Bayern Munich, Kylian Mbappé of Real Madrid, as well as Jofre and Tejero from Espanyol. This approach has proven extremely effective, having led to the annulment of 13 opposing goals for offside, including seven after verification by VAR. For its part, FC Barcelona only committed 26 offsides, an average of 1.7 per match. Waiting for opposing teams to adapt to these tactics, they struck again last weekend, with two Espanyol goals disallowed. Hansi Flick’s defense, led by Baldé, Inigo, Cubarsi and Koundé, has mastered this method perfectly, which has already caused a lot of damage.
Senegal
