Barça’s problem is not the goal, it’s the defense

More than the lack of aim, a circumstance that can be solved at any time, the great problem of Barça is the high and unusual number of goals conceded. The last goal, against Naples, the seventh time in the last eight meetings. A more general view shows that it is not an occasional deficiency or characteristic only of the Xavi stage. Of the 33 official matches played so far, the Barça team has received goals in 26. They have only kept a clean sheet in 7, four in LaLiga (Levante, Espanyol, Mallorca and Alavés) and three in the Champions League (two against Dinamo and one against Benfica). An unusual amount at this point in the campaign compared to previous seasons. In 2020-2021, the total was already 19.

Barça cannot plug the gap it has in the goal, neither at the Camp Nou nor outside. Only on four occasions, the rival left without having scored. The remaining 11 of 15 always ended up ‘wetting’, 10 in the League and one in the Champions League. In the Cup and Super Cup he has always played away from the Estadi, as a visitor or on a neutral field. So many goals (40 in total) have ended up costing points: 30 in the League, 8 in the group stage and elimination in the Cup and Super Cup.

The causes are varied. It is the line that has been retouched the least this season. Strengthening the left side is a pending issue for a long time. And the signing of the right ended in the Premier League. All the defenders have been absent at some point due to injury, that is not counting the coronavirus, and some of them, even, due to suspension, such as Alves, Pique and Eric. In addition, the system changes have also had an impact, because no formula has managed to put the lock, neither playing with three central defenders nor with the classic defense of four. The location of some players and individual and referee errors have had their impact. Xavi knows that many mistakes are made and is trying to fix it

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