Since Hansi Flick took charge in 2024, Barcelona has displayed no middle ground, alternating between dominant success and costly failures. The team enjoyed a streak of 11 consecutive victories, including nine La Liga wins—a record—and two Champions League triumphs at the start of the season. However, this momentum was halted by back-to-back losses in Paris against PSG and at the Camp Nou against Real Madrid. These defeats highlight an apparent allergy to draws; the club has recorded only 10 draws in 130 matches, with just seven in the 2024-2025 campaign and three so far in 2025-2026.
The pattern of collapse is evident in the final minutes of these games. Barcelona lost 4-2 to PSG after equalizing at 2-2 in the 80th minute, and fell 1-2 to Real Madrid following a second goal by Kylian Mbappé on a counterattack in the 86th minute while the score was level at 1-1. The loss to Madrid was particularly damaging as it impacted the points gap in La Liga; the team aimed for a nine-point advantage but settled for three, failing to secure a potential six-point lead. This recurring frustration mirrors previous struggles against Atlético and PSG, including a 2025 European semifinal exit against Inter Milan where Barcelona squandered a late lead.
Despite the signing of Rodri, the World Cup 2026 best player and a defensive midfielder par excellence, the team continues to struggle with closing out matches. During the recent clásico, Rodri repeatedly gestured for calm, warning that the team was conceding too much space after a 5-2 victory at the Cartuja. The core issue remains how to correct the vulnerability shown in 18 European matches where Barcelona has conceded at least one goal. Flick attributes these lapses to injuries, physical condition, freshness, ball losses, and egos rather than a fundamental flaw in his philosophy, which posits that the best defense is a strong attack.
Flick's system demands high intensity to press, recover, and finish plays quickly to prevent counterattacks, yet the team struggles with timing and regulation. While pressure and mobility were hallmarks of Pep Guardiola's era, Flick prioritizes speed and force, though he remains identified with the Masia style. The challenge lies in finding equilibrium with players like Rodri and Pedri who can interpret the game, even as opponents have learned to neutralize them with individual marking and exploit the high defensive line through double movements on the wings.
In the short term, Flick hopes to recover injured defenders Eric García, Christensen, and Koundé, while Jules Koundé is out for seven weeks. Meanwhile, sporting director Deco is exploring the winter market for a defender to add strength and reduce fragility in duels and aerial balls. The recent defeats have forced a reevaluation of the midfield structure, the positioning of the three central midfielders, and the synchronization of pressure. With upcoming fixtures against Aston Villa, Atlético, and Alavés, the team must address these tactical gaps after a season where they proved strong against weaker opponents but vulnerable against top-tier rivals.
Sources: El País Deportes.