A 33-year-old and an 18-year-old have run the Barcelona defensive show this season. With Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez at its heart, this pair is a mixture of youth and experience. Both defenders have played a vital role in building Barcelona’s play and maintaining defensive solidity. Let’s discuss why this duo is special.
Charismatic Cubarsi : The Future of Barcelona’s Defense Is Already Here
At only 18, Cubarsi has played with the maturity of a seasoned veteran. He has not just held his own in Flick’s system; he has dominated. The La Masia teenager has the highest number of passes in La Liga (1751), and this shows how vital Cubarsi has been in building up play. He has broken lines with his precise passing and remained composed under pressure. He has also engaged in more than 200 defensive duels and has shown all the characteristics of an elite, modern centre-back.
The best thing about Cubarsi, which I have liked, is his decision-making. The player’s maturity and intelligence in his decisions have been truly mindblowing. Barca’s backline will surely be secured for years if he continues on this trajectory.
Monster Martinez: Barcelona’s Experienced Wall
Inigo Martinez’s aggressive defending has brilliantly complemented Cubarsi’s brilliance. The 33-year-old has the experience, aerial strength, and composure that the Catalan defence has lacked recently. The Spanish defender has also grabbed headlines with his 1606 completed passes (second most in La Liga). The player has proven key for the Catalans this season. We all witnessed how Barcelona’s buildup play suffered heavily in January, when Inigo got a brief hamstring injury.
Inigo has provided the physicality and defensive leadership at Barcelona’s backline. He has mentored Cubarsi, who has flourished by playing alongside his experience. My favourite attribute of Martinez is his fantastic positioning. Inigo has been an intercepting machine for Barcelona and has cleared danger through lightning positioning and reflexes.
Cubarsi and Martinez Are Dictating Barcelona’s Tempo
The duo has played a brilliant role in acting as Barcelona’s passing engines and controlling the game. By being La Liga’s top two passers, both defenders have ensured that attacks start deep within the Barca half and that possession is maintained. The best part of this passing is that it’s not just regular horizontal or back passing. A significant chunk of these balls have been line-breaking and vertical.
Another interesting statistic about Barca this season is that they have played the fewest long passes in the league. This shows that Flick has stuck to Barcelona’s iconic short-passing style, and this defensive pair has shined under this philosophy. They have effortlessly maintained a high line, linked up with the playmakers in midfield, and helped dismantle low-block teams. The pair is undoubtedly the best ball-playing centre-back duo in the world.
Barcelona’s defensive inconsistency has been a big talking point in recent years. With the Inigo-Cubarsi duo, Flick might have found the perfect balance. The previous defensive duo, Araujo and Christensen, will now have to outperform these two to carve a space for themselves, which will promote healthy competition. This means that Barcelona’s backline will be safe in the foreseeable future.