A closer look at Barcelona’s concerning defensive form this season | OneFootball

Before the start of the season, one of Hansi Flick’s top priorities was to improve the team’s defensive numbers and make them more solid at the back.

But as we approach November, this has been far from reality. Barcelona, in fact, are enduring a difficult season defensively and are hugely underperforming their competitors Real Madrid.

Barcelona’s defensive performances this season are backed by numbers, which paint a worrying picture for coach Flick.

Barcelona’s poor defensive output in 2025/26

According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have now conceded in seven consecutive matches across all competitions.

During this stretch, the club have faced Oviedo, Real Sociedad, PSG, Sevilla, Girona, Olympiacos, and Real Madrid.

In total, they have shipped 12 goals during this run and 16 overall this season. To put things into perspective, after 13 matches last year, the club had only gone three games in a row conceding a goal.

What’s going wrong with Barcelona’s defence this season? (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

This worrying trend reflects a growing fragility in Flick’s setup. Barcelona’s high defensive line and pressing style – central to the German coach’s philosophy – often leave them exposed when the collective pressure fails.

While the intention to dominate high up the pitch is clear, the execution has faltered.

Opponents who bypass the press easily find space behind, as seen in recent matches against Sevilla (13 shots, 5 on target), Girona (8 shots, 4 on target), and Real Madrid (23 shots, 10 on target).

Injuries have also forced Flick into constant reshuffles at the back, with seven different defensive combinations already used this season.

The most recent backline of Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Eric Garcia, and Alejandro Balde has brought some continuity, but the loss of Inigo Martinez continues to weigh heavily on the club.