First time since the Koeman era – Flick’s Barcelona showing worrying defensive trend | OneFootball

Barcelona’s defensive frailties have become one of the most concerning storylines of their season so far. 

The team’s recent dip in form can largely be traced to their inability to maintain stability at the back, something uncharacteristic of Hansi Flick’s usually well-structured setup. 

The fact of the matter is that Barcelona have been leaking goals far too easily. Even more worrying, their ability to keep clean sheets has completely vanished.

In fact, the last time Barcelona managed a shutout was back on September 21, when Flick’s men earned a 3-0 victory over Getafe. 

Since then, the Blaugrana have gone seven consecutive matches without keeping a clean sheet – a run that has not occurred since the 2020/21 season under Ronald Koeman.

Not a great record to have

Last season, Barcelona had two separate spells of six matches conceding goals, but never seven. 

Barcelona have struggled to keep a clean sheet. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

If Elche manage to score this weekend, Barça will match the eight-game streak under Koeman five years ago. 

Curiously, that poor run in 2021 was ended by a 3-0 victory against Elche, a coincidence that could repeat itself this Sunday if history is to rhyme.

Another major concern lies in the sheer number of goals conceded. Across La Liga and the Champions League, Barcelona have played 13 matches, conceding 16 goals, an average of 1.23 per game, considerably higher than in previous seasons. 

Last season, the team conceded 13 goals in their first 13 games, while in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons, the figure stood at just 11.

To find a worse defensive record, one has to look back again to Koeman’s second year in charge, when Barcelona conceded 17 goals in the first 13 matches, suffering five defeats in the process. 

This season, they have already lost three – to PSG, Sevilla, and Real Madrid – signalling a clear decline in defensive efficiency.