Barcelona vs Real Madrid - What happened last time?
A quick tactical preview based on the last clásico, the problems Barca faced in their 3-1 defeat, and how they can avoid making the same mistakes twice.
Let’s do it! 👇
A quick tactical preview based on the last clásico, the problems Barca faced in their 3-1 defeat, and how they can avoid making the same mistakes twice.
Let’s do it! 👇
PROBLEM 1 - PRESS
Madrid exposed Barca’s man-to-man press in a few ways. The first was their shape, which had Kroos/Tchouameni drop into the back line.
This created a pretty wide system, and huge spaces between players. Busquets was isolated against Modric all game.
Madrid exposed Barca’s man-to-man press in a few ways. The first was their shape, which had Kroos/Tchouameni drop into the back line.
This created a pretty wide system, and huge spaces between players. Busquets was isolated against Modric all game.
So Madrid had 3 players in buildup vs Barca’s 2-man press, and Kroos had the quality to find Modric regularly.
If Barca want to press man-to-man, they’ll have to up the intensity massively, and probably commit more players in order to be more compact around the ball.
If Barca want to press man-to-man, they’ll have to up the intensity massively, and probably commit more players in order to be more compact around the ball.
In general, Barca’s press was poor and players were getting beaten 1 vs 1. That breaks the pressing structure wide open, and the midfielders are left covering too much space.
Barca need to make it much harder to break that first line of pressure.
Barca need to make it much harder to break that first line of pressure.
Later at 2-0, Madrid sacrificed threat to get even more players in the 1st phase. Again, Barca didn’t know how to press these overloads.
That changed when Gavi came on and added a LOT more intensity. I’m pretty confident he’ll start for these reasons.
That changed when Gavi came on and added a LOT more intensity. I’m pretty confident he’ll start for these reasons.
PROBLEM 2 - POSSESSION
Barca were pretty meek on the ball, particularly on the left. The Balde/Dembele/Pedri triangle was too static, and there wasn’t enough movement in-behind.
This led to stale possession in deep areas, but no penetration into the box.
Barca were pretty meek on the ball, particularly on the left. The Balde/Dembele/Pedri triangle was too static, and there wasn’t enough movement in-behind.
This led to stale possession in deep areas, but no penetration into the box.
Dembélé wanted the ball to feet too often, instead of providing a threat in-behind.
As a result I’d like to see a four-man midfield again, with Pedri drifting into the left half-space, de Jong behind him, flanked by Alba/Balde.
This creates significantly more dynamism and penetration on the left, while putting Dembele on his favoured right side.
This creates significantly more dynamism and penetration on the left, while putting Dembele on his favoured right side.
Barca were also very risk-averse in that Clasico. Giving up threatening opportunities for the sake of control (despite being 2-0 down).
They’ll need to be much better at deciding when to commit, and when to control. Then it’s all about quality.
They’ll need to be much better at deciding when to commit, and when to control. Then it’s all about quality.
PROBLEM 3 - TRANSITION
This is by far Barca’s biggest concern.
Counter-attacks happen for a few reasons. A lack of penetration is one of them, as dispossessions happen outside the box rather than inside.
That makes it easier for Real to regain possession and find Vini quickly.
This is by far Barca’s biggest concern.
Counter-attacks happen for a few reasons. A lack of penetration is one of them, as dispossessions happen outside the box rather than inside.
That makes it easier for Real to regain possession and find Vini quickly.
Another issue is counter-pressing. Again, a lack of intensity and aggression made it easy for Real to play out in their own box.
That continued even during the counter-attack, where Barca will need to use tactical fouls to better prevent these situations developing.
That continued even during the counter-attack, where Barca will need to use tactical fouls to better prevent these situations developing.
Changing the buildup shape to a double pivot could also help in transitions. Where the 6 won’t be isolated even if Real beat the first line of pressure.
It might mean the defensive line is narrower, but stopping the pass in-behind is more important than defending that pass.
It might mean the defensive line is narrower, but stopping the pass in-behind is more important than defending that pass.
PROBLEM 4 - ERRORS
Yes there were tactical issues, but Barca made far too many errors. Sloppy passes, defensive misjudgements. It felt like they’d lost the mental game.
That’ll be the most important challenge in this one. Despite all the youth and inexperience, can they —
Yes there were tactical issues, but Barca made far too many errors. Sloppy passes, defensive misjudgements. It felt like they’d lost the mental game.
That’ll be the most important challenge in this one. Despite all the youth and inexperience, can they —
— overcome the mental hurdle and play without fear? In a final against Real Madrid?
That’s where this’ll be won and lost, I think.
That’s where this’ll be won and lost, I think.
Hope this gives a nice intro to the game. If you want a more in-depth analysis of the last clasico, I made a whole video on it 🤓
youtube.com
youtube.com
Loading suggestions...