Three takeaways from Club Brugge 3-3 Barcelona | UEFA Champions League | OneFootball

Barcelona could only salvage a 3-3 draw against Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League last night as their matchday 4 game went completely away from plan and was unexpectedly tight.

The Belgian side gave Barcelona a tough fight and developed a plan that saw them exploit the Catalans’ defence. They went ahead thrice on the night and deserved the win more than Barcelona.

Hansi Flick’s side, however, fought and found the equaliser all three times but never went ahead.

In fact, they were lucky to take away even a point for a late error by Wojciech Szczesny actually handed Club Brugge the win until VAR intervened and handed Barcelona a boost.

Barça Universal brings you three takeaways from Club Brugge 3-3 Barcelona.

Defensive horror

Club Brugge scored three goals against Barcelona. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Barcelona’s defence has been leaky all season and is clearly at a level far below where it was last campaign.

With Inigo Martinez no longer around and Jules Kounde operating at a far lower level than usual, the manager has struggled to find a defensive setup that can adapt well to what he expects on the field.

As a result, every opposition the Catalans have faced this season has managed to break through the defence with ease and create counter-attacking chances by breaking the offside trap. Last night was no different.

Club Brugge entered the game with a clear plan of unleashing their pacey forwards behind the defensive line on the night, and they seemingly succeeded with their every attempt.

Barcelona’s defence was in complete and utter shambles, and the hosts created more big chances than Hansi Flick’s men.

Carlos Forbs, on the hosts’ right flank, tormented Alejandro Balde and spearheaded Club Burgge’s attack for most of the game.

Not only was he decisive in front of goal, but he also wreaked havoc with his devastating pace. 

Nicolo Tresoldi and Hans Vanaken provided the supportive framework in attack and threaded in balls and linked up with quick touches to enable Forbs’ breakaway, and Barcelona had no answers to the tactic.

Hansi Flick is adamant on sticking to his philosophy and not changing the team’s style as a reactionary response.

There is, however, a real need to reorganise the defence for the team has not maintained a clean sheet in nine games now.

Yamal’s game of two halves

Lamine Yamal scored a fantastic goal. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Lamine Yamal was the silver lining for Barcelona in last night’s draw, and perhaps the single biggest reason why the Catalans walked away with at least one point.

His game, however, was a queer one that can be divided into two clear halves.

In the opening 45 minutes, the youngster was dull, unimportant in the buildup and did not involve as much as the manager would have liked him to in the team’s attack.

His movements looked off, and he lost the ball regularly, creating a clear sentiment that he could well still be dealing with his pubalgia.

After the restart, however, Yamal was electric and switched on, improving drastically and making a difference every time he got on the ball.

The youngster looked more inspired after the break, completed his dribbles with confidence and got into the box regularly – creating clear goalscoring chances if not taking the shot himself.

Eventually, it was his moment of brilliance that helped Barcelona score their second equaliser against Club Brugge.

Dribbling through the tight defence, the teenager linked up intricately with Dani Olmo and controlled the ball delicately to slide it into the back of the Belgian side’s net.

Further, it was Yamal again who created and forced an own goal that ended up serving as Barcelona’s third equaliser on the night.

His strike from outside the box forced the defensive interception, which created a deflection and found its way into the goal.

All in all, the second-half Yamal looked more confident and truer to his real self and Barcelona can take it away as a massive positive. They will, after all, need this version of him in the coming games and months.

Vital points dropped

Barcelona struggled for consistency. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Barcelona’s defeat to Paris Saint-Germain saw the Catalans drop three vital points in the UEFA Champions League’s league phase and mounted the pressure on them to keep a perfect record heading forward.

After all, with Chelsea away from home up next as their challenge in the competition, the game against Club Brugge was seen as one where they could and must take all three points to retain a cushion for error.

Last night’s draw, however, now sees the club drop five points in the competition already. Given that only four match days have passed, they are in a tricky situation.

In the already hectic schedule, it is undoubtedly Barcelona’s idea to avoid the playoff round by directly finishing in the top eight.

With just two wins in four games so far, they already sit in 11th place and are two points behind the team in eighth place, and it is clear that their place is in jeopardy.

The game against Chelsea now becomes a virtual must-win, for any further points dropped will further hamper their chances of a direct qualification.