Following a 3-0 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Barcelona now find themselves in a precarious position in the UEFA Champions League.
The club will now have to win all of their remaining three matches in order to stand a chance of finishing in the top eight and sealing a direct entry to the Round of 16.
This is a considerable drop-off for a team that finished second during the league phase last season.
What has changed for Barcelona?
As reported by Mundo Deportivo, if there is one statistic that defines Barcelona’s Champions League form under Hansi Flick so far, it is this: 24 goals conceded in just 10 away matches.
This data is not specific to this season but to Flick’s stint at Barcelona as a whole, which highlights the team’s defensive fragility in the competition, especially in away matches.
While the Blaugrana have been formidable at home, they have yet to find a reliable formula when travelling across Europe.
Hansi Flick, FC Barcelona manager
Flick must find answers to Barcelona’s defensive woes. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
In his first season at the club, trips to Monaco and Belgrade saw the team concede two goals apiece.
The struggles peaked against top-tier opposition, with Borussia Dortmund putting four past Barça in December and another three in April. Even in victories, such as the wild 5-4 win against Benfica in Lisbon, the defence shipped four goals.
Whether against heavyweights or manageable fixtures like Newcastle and Club Brugge, the opposition invariably finds a way to punish Flick’s side.
Moreover, Barcelona have shown a persistent inability to control matches without the ball away from home. The team struggles to stop transitions, protect their penalty area, and manage periods of intense pressure.
Barcelona’s poor numbers away from home are a testament to their struggles in the Champions League, especially when playing away from home.
Despite this, Barcelona have not pushed the panic button just yet and are hopeful of emulating PSG last season.