Barcelona has officially lost their first game of the year this week against Dortmund. Although the Catalans won on aggregate, this second leg loss shows some alarming cracks. Here are three things Flick’s men must confront to prevent the next European horror.
Barcaâs Missed Chances Are Getting Alarmingly High
The second leg against Dortmund was bound to be tough, even with a 4-0 advantage. Dortmund is one of the best ball-playing sides in Europe, and this meant Flick’s men had to win possession more and more. Thus, fewer chances were offered.
However, Barca squandered the few golden opportunities offered to them. The only goal for Barca came off a Dortmund defender, and it was a lucky escape. Kounde missed an absolute sitter due to a heavy touch, and Fermin, who has been sensational lately, also lacked the finishing touch by a mile. Even Raphinha missed an easy chance with a timid finish. Flick needs to sort this out, as now is the time to be the cold-blooded finisher Barca has been throughout the season.
Araujoâs Ball-Play Blind Spot :Time to Bench the Warrior?
Araujo’s strong defense and mentality make him a cult hero for Barca. But that botched clearance for Dortmund’s third goal was an absolute crime. Why does he always do this in high-stakes Champion League knockouts? Defenders must be good on the ball against teams like Dortmund, who press like rabid dogs, and Araujo, with all due-respect, has been awful with the ball.
Flick must learn because the Uruguayan is a weapon for specific battles, like the first leg, where his fantastic double stop saved Barca. However, in fixtures demanding composure, Cubarsi and Inigo should start, and it’s a no-brainer.
Set-Piece Nightmare and the Number 9 Curse
Dortmund’s striker Serhou Guirassy scored a hattrick against Barca. And it wasn’t the first time the Catalans conceded a hattrick this UCL season. Benfica’s Pavilidis also danced through our defense for a hattrick earlier this season. These strong number nines are becoming too hot for our centrebacks to handle, as we have seen multiple spearheads being a menace for Barca this season. Alexander Sorlorth is also one of the lot.
Talking about Guirassy’s header, it was so unchallenged. One would think Barca’s defenders were just idle and did not even want to challenge. The set-piece defending is an anomaly Flick needs to fix this because Inter Milan has got some phenomenal set-piece experts.