BarcelonaDuring the week, Barça had left Mallorca offside eleven times. One more, twelve, were singled out for Real Madrid in the famous 0-4 at the Bernabéu in October. The brilliant coordination of the defensive line, and above all its height, have been hallmarks of Hansi Flick’s Barça in these first months of competition. This has served to knock down the opposing team’s forwards countless times offside, causing the opponents to despair. But those same rivals have already had time to study Flick’s trap and seem to have found the antidote. Is this really the case or is Barça doing things worse and, therefore, the offside trap no longer always works with the same efficiency?
Not only Betis, but teams like Celta, Real Sociedad, Bayern or even Espanyol, regardless of the final result, have tried to overcome Barça’s high line with similar arguments. Basically, changes in orientation to attack the weak side (the one where the ball game is not taking place) and input from second line players. The rivals are now trying to attack in waves, in a more sinuous and less frontal way, as for example Madrid did, hastily and frustrated, in the classic of this first round in the League (0-4).
The common denominators are there, but each rival that has complicated life for Flick’s Barça has known how to qualify their proposal. Betis, for example, found an open door behind Kounde. He completely changed his pressure at half-time. During the first half he planted a line of four players that floated in front of the Barça defenders. It was a line that, despite the large presence of troops, wanted to be narrow to make connections with Barça’s interior midfielders difficult. It didn’t go well and Betis started the second half going in search of Flick’s players who made the start of three: Lo Celso covered Iñigo, Vitor Roque jumped over Cubarsi and Abde did the same with Kounde. And Barça got stuck. improve.
The release of the ball in the face of aggressive pressure from the opponent must be richer and more precise. Thus it is very difficult to establish yourself in the opposite field, lengthen the sequence of passes there and, as a result of all this, make a good high press after losing the ball. unstitched and exposed to duels. The opponent with the ball finds time and space to control, raise his head and make the deep pass to the teammates who enter from the second line. Thus, the high defense is completely naked. offside is not working like it did a few weeks ago, it is not just a problem for the four defenders. It is a collective issue. dominating with it and, once in the opposite field, taking care of it and moving it with sense to sink the rival. This way, when you lose it, you can apply good pressure. When this happens, the high defensive line will feel more felt again. sheltered.
Everything would be of great importance in this Wednesday’s game in Dortmund. If Barça wants to be faithful to their idea of the game, they will need to improve with the ball because defending so high up and with such courage makes sense. ~
Related News :