Hansi Flick’s Barcelona was handed a draw by Gasperini’s Atalanta at the Montjuic in the last matchday of the Champions League. Things didn’t go as planned for Flick’s men and it’s fair to say that Atalanta was the better side in this clash despite the result.
Gasperini’s man-to-man marking
The Atalanta manager had instructed his players to exercise man-marking and restrict Barca from making any build-ups. No player was getting enough time on the ball as a man in blue and black always accompanied him. Gasperini’s men so strictly followed the instructions that on an instance when Lewandowski dropped as deep as the right-back’s position, the Centre-back still followed him all the way. This was a really risky tactic but it was executed more or less perfectly by Atlanta and it saved them from Flick’s usual bombardment of attacks on the defense.
Barca’s way out and why it didn’t work
The counter to this hurdle presented by Gasperini was possibly to be effective in passing and breaking lines. However, this required the centre-backs of Barca to be clinical in their passing and break lines to find forwards. Ronald Araujo and Eric Garcia are not as good as Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez in that department, and were not getting enough time on the ball due to the pressing of Atalanta’s forwards. This is why Raphinha’s ability to run in-behind could not be utilized.
Another solution could have been the centre-backs or goalkeeper playing a long ball straight to Lewandowski. Who would shield the ball and flick it for a third-man run by a midfielder which can create an attack. Again, Cubarsi and Inigo were not present on the pitch and Szczesny is not the best keeper when it comes to being good on the ball.
A lack of pressing to initiate counter-attacks
Gengenpressing Atalanta and winning balls to create counter-attack situations seemed to be the only way out for Flick’s men but the intensity was not high enough. Barca players were jogging and Atalanta found it convenient to pass the ball around them, Lewandowksi once more could not apply enough pressure on Atalanta’s defense to force an error.
“A huge success” for Flick’s Barca
Barca did manage to equalize in the second half by a combination of the front 3 with Lewandowski’s through ball, Raphinha’s cross and Yamal’s finish. Captain Araujo’s header and “I’m here to stay” celebration came in the 72nd minute and La Blaugrana finally looked good for the win.
However, just 7 minutes later Atalanta responded with a goal through a cross from the right flank. The game ended in a draw and Barca failed to capture the 1st position on the league table. Regardless of the result, Hansi Flick called the league phase of UCL a “huge success” and most Culers would agree with him. Barca’s possible opponents in the R16 are PSG, AS Monaco, SL Benfica and Brest and the fans would certainly want a rematch with the French side of Luis Enrique to settle unfinished business.
