Repeated mistake threatens Barcelona under Flick in big matches

FC Barcelona, under the management of Hans Flick, continue to struggle with a recurring defensive issue, as opponents exploit the spaces behind their high defensive line. This was evident again during their 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the clásico, where Kylian Mbappé scored the winning goal from a counter-attack in the dying minutes.

Spanish newspaper "Mundo Deportivo" highlighted Barcelona's insistence on attacking play and pushing towards the opponent's goal, considering that this trait, which has emerged since Flick's arrival in the summer of 2024, has also caused the team to lose important points, especially against teams capable of exploiting spaces in critical minutes.

The problem was not limited to the clásico, as the team failed to hold onto their lead against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League in October 2025, conceding a goal from Gonçalo Ramos in the 90th minute, who took advantage of the spaces behind the high defensive line. Additionally, the team lost to Atlético in December 2024, with a goal from Alexander Sørloth in the 96th minute, who capitalized on a crucial counter-attack.

Barcelona faced repeated struggles in key matches, including a Copa del Rey clash against Atlético in February 2025, when the team scored two goals in the dying minutes to turn a deficit into a 4-4 draw. They also encountered difficulties against Inter in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final in May of the same year, where Acerbi equalized in the 93rd minute before Barcelona lost 4-3. The team suffered again against Atlético in the quarter-finals of the Champions League during the 2025/2026 season, when Pau Cubarsí was sent off in the first leg, which ended in a 2-1 defeat for Barcelona.

The Spanish newspaper pointed out that the problem is not just related to the attacking thrust, but also to Barcelona's difficulty in handling situations that require greater caution and control over the game's tempo. In this context, Rodri had previously warned against conceding goals again, following the 5-2 victory over Real Betis, stating: "The team always shows its attacking capabilities, but we allow opponents to create many opportunities, and from here improvement can come."

The newspaper sees that FC Barcelona needs to develop its ability to win matches that do not go according to its usual style, considering that overcoming this issue may be necessary if the team wants to compete strongly for the UEFA Champions League title, as offensive capabilities alone are not enough to secure victories in major encounters.