Barcelona’s victory over RCD Mallorca on Tuesday evening saw one member of the club’s backline continue to struggle.
The player in question? Jules Koundé.
Defender Koundé was for his part in from the off once more tonight, as Barcelona made the trip to Son Moix for a La Liga meeting with the aforementioned Mallorca.
When all was said and done, Hansi Flick’s troops emerged dominant victors, by five goals to one.
This came owing to goals on the part of Ferran Torres, Raphinha (2), Frenkie de Jong and Pau Víctor.
Whilst the Blaugrana’s attacking stars got the job done when it mattered on Tuesday, though, one of those at the other end of the pitch carried forth what has been a concerning recent dip in form.
Jules Koundé was at one point earlier this season widely hailed as one of the leading lights in Hansi Flick’s squad, shining on both sides of the ball from his berth at right-back.
Recent weeks, however, have seen the Frenchman’s form take a turn for the worse.
Shaky and indecisive in his defending, and sloppy in possession, Koundé out of the blue looks a shell of his previously brilliant self.
He was, in truth, not terrible against Mallorca, but still too often looked off the pace of his teammates.
One source of ongoing concern amid an otherwise superb night’s work for Barcelona…
Conor Laird – GSFN