Barcelona vs Celta Vigo: Defensive Concerns for La Liga?

The loss to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals, stemming from defensive problems, has presented Barcelona with a significant challenge in terms of controlling matches and enhancing defensive quality.

Coach Hansi Flick is often praised for his attacking style reminiscent of Johan Cruyff. However, the Catalan team tends to attack aggressively rather than patiently building play. Barcelona can dominate matches with speed and overwhelm opponents, but they also create traps for themselves.

From the idea...

Last May, after winning his first La Liga title, the German strategist openly acknowledged his intention to refine the team's playstyle, hoping for better rhythm control and more solid defense.

This goal has been pursued multiple times but achieved only inconsistently. Barcelona has tried to protect themselves with a slightly lower defensive line and added midfielders like Marc Bernal, yet they remain a team often disadvantaged.

Atletico thoroughly exploited defensive weaknesses in recent encounters with the Spanish champions and eliminated Flick's team in both cup competitions: the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.

The issue is how to address these shortcomings in the remaining season to protect their 9-point advantage over Real Madrid in La Liga. Celta Vigo is considered one of the Catalan team's toughest opponents in Spain and excels at exploiting gaps behind Barcelona's defenders.

In the first leg at Balaidos, where the reigning champions won 4-2, goals by Carreira and Iglesias for Celta were scored from fast counterattacks and passes behind the visiting team's defensive line.

Claudio Giraldez's team is adept at "ambushing" Barcelona and has demonstrated this repeatedly in past meetings. Currently, Celta is striving to secure a European cup spot next season and will undoubtedly pose significant challenges for the Camp Nou hosts.

Flick's team cannot afford to relax at any moment, and the defensive system's solidity depends on his choice for the anchor position among De Jong, Gavi, and Bernal. Currently, the midfielder wearing number 22 has just returned to training with the team after injury, while Gavi and De Jong have both played in recent crucial matches.

...to reality

"I would exclude Gavi from the list because, for me, he is a central midfielder leaning towards the pivot position. He is not strictly a defensive midfielder, but everything depends on how we understand this Barcelona. Ultimately, Flick does not play with a defensive midfielder. Neither De Jong, Gavi, nor Bernal fit the mold we typically think of when mentioning Busquets. They are more like midfielders supporting Pedri," explained journalist Albert Blaya from RAC1.

In Barcelona's lineup, where everything revolves around Pedri, the selection of midfield partners shapes the team's playstyle. So far, Frenkie de Jong is Flick's most favored, as the Dutch midfielder controls play better and helps the number 8 perform better.

With these two players on the field, the Catalan team has an excellent attacking pair, maintaining perfect rhythm and controlling match tempo well. However, neither is a defensive specialist or a pivot midfielder.

De Jong can sacrifice himself more to support center backs during opponent counterattacks or attacks. But similar to Xavi and Iniesta of the previous generation, Pedri and De Jong still need a player type like Busquets, here Bernal, for the remainder of the season.

Number 22 excels in one-on-one defensive situations, though his physicality and spatial awareness do not reach the level of the midfielder affectionately called Busi. Bernal does not play with speed or possess sharp attacking development abilities, but both can improve if he avoids serious injuries.

Currently, Flick is rotating the lineup considerably due to Raphinha's injury and Rashford's decline, preferring Fermin on the left wing and positioning Olmo as a number 10 in matches against Atletico.

This makes Barcelona's defensive system more fragile, so it is likely that Gavi will play to support Pedri-De Jong.