The biggest problem Hansi Flick needs to address at Barcelona on priority | OneFootball

Barcelona’s season has taken on a noticeably different pace since their 1-2 defeat to Real Madrid in late October. 

That loss could have derailed the team, yet instead it ignited a strong response from Hansi Flick’s men. 

Since that setback, Barcelona have played nine matches, winning seven of them and losing only twice. 

In terms of results, the reaction has been largely positive, but beneath the surface lies a worrying trend that continues to shadow the team’s progress.

Worrying defensive record

While scoring goals has not been an issue, preventing them has become one of Barcelona’s most persistent problems. 

The club have now gone 16 consecutive matches without keeping a clean sheet across all competitions. 

The last time Barça managed to shut out their opponent was in a 4-0 win over Athletic Club in late November. 

Before that, their previous clean sheet dates all the way back to 22 September against Getafe.

Barcelona need to work on their defence. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

Across these 16 matches, Barcelona have conceded 27 goals, a figure that paints a clearer picture of the defensive instability Flick has yet to resolve. 

As such, Real Oviedo, Real Sociedad, Girona, Olympiacos, Elche, Alaves, Atlético Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt all scored once. 

PSG, Real Madrid and Celta Vigo managed two. Meanwhile, Club Brugge, Chelsea and Real Betis hit Barça with three goals each. Sevilla went even further, scoring four.

Interestingly, every team that scored just once against Barcelona eventually lost the match, suggesting that while the defence leaks, the attack still compensates. 

However, when opponents managed to strike twice, the outcomes shifted significantly. PSG and Real Madrid both celebrated victories, while only Celta Vigo fell despite scoring two. 

Among those who netted three, Club Brugge earned a draw, Chelsea secured a win, and Betis were the only side to score three yet leave empty-handed.

Barcelona’s ability to score their way out of trouble has kept results respectable, but the defensive trend is undeniable. 

As the season enters its decisive phase, securing clean sheets may be just as important as finding goals and Flick will be under pressure to fix this imbalance before it becomes even more costly.