Barcelona attempted 47 crosses against Almeria. This is not the first time they have tried this approach under Xavi, as they have attempted more than 40 crosses in four other matches - Inter at San Siro (48), Inter at Camp Nou (46), Rayo and Villarreal at home last season (40).
Barcelona failed to win any of these five games, with one draw and four losses. The common thread between these matches is that all of these teams utilized a low block defensive strategy against the Catalans.
Barca, in the same match completed just nine crosses, six of them belonging to Ferran Torres. Xavi's men managed just one shot on target and it didn't come from a cross.
Opta report that it is the first time since the 2005/06 season that Barca attempted 47 crosses in an away game. The Catalans didn't win any of their five games in which they made 47 crosses or more since the 2005/06 season, registering three draws and two losses.
Barca did go on a bombing spree against Granada in September 2021 with 54 crosses against Granada – their second-highest after 55 crosses vs Malaga in 2016.
Just 14 of them were successful but Araujo did end up finding the net for an equlizer. However, Barca had better chances from set pieces in that match. From open play, the Catalans recorded an xG [expected goals] of 0.94, from set pieces 0.95.
What's important to note is that Luuk de Jong was the key man upfront. His presence on the pitch made a difference to Barca's crossing game.
The stats show that what Barca need right now more than crossing is a play maker and possibly a '10' between the lines for better link up.
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