Xavi Hernández’s team showed firmness at the back and only conceded a goal in the opponent’s only shot on goal
One of the aspects that has weighed down Barça the most this season is their defensive weakness. Xavi Hernández’s side have lost the reliability at the back that gave them so much success in the past and have conceded goals with ease in all competitions. This has affected his overall performance and put him out of contention for some titles. But on Wednesday, in the Napoli field (1-1), Barça showed another face and recovered the defensive solidity it needs to be competitive.
The numbers are not deceiving
The statistics reflect Barça’s defensive problem. In the league, he has conceded 34 goals in 25 games, 14 more than in all of last season. It is the worst record among the top 10 ranked. In the Champions League, he has scored seven goals in six games, two more than in the entire group stage last year. In the cup, he was eliminated after conceding four goals in two consecutive games (4-1 against Real Madrid and 4-2 against Athletic Club). And in the super cup, he also fell with four goals against (4-1 against Sevilla). In total, there are 52 goals conceded in 36 games, an average of 1.44 per game. Last season, he received 46 in 60 games, an average of 0.77 per game.
The causes of the decline
There is no single explanation for this decline in defensive level. There are several factors that have influenced. One is poor collective play, manifested in ineffective high pressure, which used to be one of the team’s strengths. Another is injuries to key players such as Ter Stegen and Araujo, who have been sidelined for part of the season. A third is the poor timing of the form of some defenders, such as Kounde, who has dropped his performance compared to last year. And a fourth is the individual mistakes and the lack of concentration and forcefulness in some specific actions that have meant goals against. Barça, with little, they have done a lot of damage to.
The improvement in Naples
But in Naples, Barça changed the dynamic and showed a better version without the ball. The team came out with intensity and recovered many balls in the opposite field, especially in the first half. The defence, formed by Kounde, Araujo, Iñigo Martínez and Cancelo, with Christensen as the pivot, was solid and withstood the opponent’s attacks. Kounde had a great game and neutralized Kvaratskhelia, one of the best wingers in Europe. And Ter Stegen was calm as he had only one shot on target, which ended in a goal by Osimhen, who beat Iñigo Martínez in a dubious move. Barça showed firmness at the back and only conceded a draw in the only mistake they made.
The reactions
This defensive improvement was positively assessed by the coach and the players. Xavi Hernández said that the team had been “very good in the defensive phase” and that it had only been “mismatched in the goal”. Kounde emphasized that they had done “a good job” in front of “good players” and that this was “something that should be valued”. And Araujo acknowledged that they were “bad for the goal”, but that they had “proved that we are a good team”. They all agreed that this defensive solvency is a first step to being competitive again and that it needs to be continued. The next test will be tomorrow (4.15 p.m.) against Borja Mayoral’s Getafe, the second top scorer in the league with 15 goals, at the Lluís Companys stadium.
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Posted in News Friday, February 23, 2024
