Barcelona’s 1-2 loss to Las Palmas revealed a significant weakness in their defensive setup, particularly in their ability to execute effective offside traps.
The defenders—Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, and Inigo Martinez—who had previously been solid in thwarting opposing attacks through well-timed offside traps, are no longer as effective as they were earlier in the season.
It is to be noted that while Barcelona showed a slight improvement in their performance against Brest, the game against Las Palmas exposed structural issues within the team once again.
Disappointing numbers
One of the main concerns is the team’s lack of precision when it comes to timing the offside line.
Gone are the days when Barcelona’s defensive unit was able to catch opponents offside repeatedly, as seen in their El Clasico victory over Real Madrid earlier in the season. Now, their opponents are adapting and attacking Barcelona’s defensive line in different ways.
Las Palmas perfectly exploited Barcelona’s defensive structure. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
In the last four matches, Barcelona’s defence has managed to catch opponents offside an average of four times per game. This is a significant decrease from the previous 16 games, where the average was 6.75.
The drop in offside calls suggests that teams are now finding new ways to break through Barcelona’s defensive structure, particularly against the centre-back pairing of Martinez and Cubarsi, who are still not being rotated enough to maintain fresh legs.
A look at Las Palmas’ goals
The two goals Las Palmas scored serve as examples of the shift in attacking strategies against Barcelona. The first goal came from a breakdown in Barcelona’s marking.
Las Palmas were able to pass the ball five times before creating a three-on-two situation, which led to Sandro’s goal. This showed a lack of defensive organisation and allowed the opposition to take advantage of the space.
The second goal was a result of a well-executed cross from the wing. Barcelona’s defence struggled to get into position in time to set the offside trap correctly, leaving Hector Fort unable to cope with Fabio Silva, who scored the goal.
This highlights how Barcelona’s defensive line is becoming increasingly vulnerable to quick, precise attacks that bypass their defensive traps.