The first time a Red Star player has been sent off on Wednesday will be the 100th time for Barca’s rivals this season
BELGIUM — The Barcelona this season has really stepped up in every aspect. It has encouraged the prominence of the quarry, in capital letters; His scoring ability (50 goals) has recovered, in a big way, and the tactics are out of place.
In his first 15 official games (12 in the League and three in Champions) it Barcelona led to 99 plays of it out of place his rivals, which means that the first footballer Red Star Belgrade Anyone who falls into this ‘trap’ will have the dubious honor of being number 100.
Barcelona lead the offside tactic like some other Getty Images
After forgetting the setback of the weather suffered on Monday, Hansi Flick’s team traveled to Belgrade this Tuesday with the intention of achieving their seventh victory (third in the Champions League) to start contribute to achieving a good position in the continental standings.
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After the initial setback in Monaco, Barça resolved their next two duels with two victories in Montjuïc against the weak Young Boys (5-0) first and against the powerful Bayern Munich (4-1) later.
Now, with the rhythm back, there is nothing more to consider than a win against a rival, Red Star, who lost the first three games of the competition and is the team with the most goals (11 goals) together with Dinamo Zagreb and Slovenia Bratislava.
Their status as Serbian League champions for the seventh season in a row and the fact that they have ten wins this season, to lead the local competition ten points ahead of modest Mladost, should not cause more concern for Barça that would be, in tenth place. place In the Champions League, he is the second best scorer (10 goals) behind only Borussia Dortmund (12) and has the logical victory around him.
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THE DEFENDANT KING
We will have to see, in this game, a new test for the defense of Barça in a commitment so incomprehensible because it is non-issue (according to the statement of his coach) to continue with the offside tactic, a week after souring Real. Madrid did the same to Espanyol, who had two more goals disallowed after being classified by the VAR.
In fact, the two goals disallowed against the parakeet team increased the total to 13 against Barça’s rivals since the start of the season. Three goals against Villarreal, two against Alavés, Real Madrid and those against Espanyol, and one against Sevilla, AS Monaco, Young Boys and Bayern. They all fell into the trap of a team that collects an average of more than 6.5 offsides per game.
Madrid’s 12 infractions in the Clásico cannot be forgotten, and Kylian Mbappé is a great witch, Barça has recovered a drama that he has not completely forgotten but has pitched as a great bet for many years. It seemed that Madrid “bet more on playing waiting for our control than on their thinking. They were waiting for some fatal error in the offside to score, without having a plan,” a source from the Barça club explained to ESPN, where there was no project. particular of these characteristics.
Passing the line forward to the center of the field, in a way that is almost suspected, is another Barça hallmark that Jules Koundé revealed in an interview with La Vanguardia, an in-depth study of the purpose. “We have seen many videos,” explained the French defender, and the young Pau Cubarsí found out after the derby that Flick’s orders are categorical: “If one goes out … everyone must be with him.”
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Fifty years ago, when Europe looked in ecstasy at the Orange revolution and the brilliance of Ajax Amsterdam, Rinus Michels imposed a new system at Camp Nou that recalled a failed bet that the Englishman Vic Buckingham tried for a few seasons before that… But with Michels’ bet, Spanish football was revolutionized.
That Barça became a reference with its offside line in the mid-70s, with Neeskens marking the line, Miguel sending his defensive teammates and Cruyff, Marcial, Rexach or Asensi ready to run when the ball is the infraction.
After half a century, Iñigo Martínez is the one who marks the line, and Koundé, Cubarsí and Alejandro Balde stand by his side with mathematical agility… And the Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and others waiting to emerge quickly. with the help of Marc Casadó and company.
And so, Barça’s main scorer in recent years is, at the same time, the real King of Europe in reverse situations.
Interview between Time.news Editor and Jordi Blanco, ESPN Correspondent in Barcelona
Time.news Editor: Welcome to this special segment where we analyze the critical happenings in the world of sports. Today, we’re joined by Jordi Blanco, the esteemed correspondent for ESPN in Barcelona. Jordi, thank you for being here!
Jordi Blanco: Thank you for having me! It’s a pleasure to discuss Barcelona’s recent performances.
Editor: Barcelona has had a remarkable season so far, leading the competition in several strategic aspects, including the offside tactic. Can you tell us more about what makes this tactic so effective under the current squad?
Blanco: Absolutely. This season, FC Barcelona has embraced a more aggressive approach defensively, leading to 99 offsides against their rivals in just 15 games. The coaching staff has emphasized this tactic, pushing players to maintain a high line, which often catches opponents unaware. As we’ve seen, it recently forced a Red Star player to be the hundredth victim of this ‘trap’.
Editor: That’s fascinating! Particularly considering how critical timing and coordination must be for this strategy to work. How have players like Jules Koundé contributed to implementing this tactic effectively?
Blanco: Koundé has been exceptional. His understanding of the game and tactical awareness has greatly enhanced Barcelona’s defensive play. He mentioned in an interview that everyone is on the same page—if one player steps up, the whole line must follow. It’s this unity and discipline that create those offside situations, making it hard for forwards to find their footing.
Editor: It’s impressive how a cohesive defense can lead to statistics like those. With a significant number of goals disallowed against Barcelona’s rivals, how do you assess their overall defensive structure?
Blanco: Barcelona’s defense has shown remarkable resilience this season. They average over 6.5 offsides per game, which not only disrupts the flow of the opposing teams but also allows Barcelona to regain possession quickly. With teams like Bayern Munich and Real Madrid also facing similar disallowed goals, it’s clear that this is a tactical trend that other clubs are struggling to counteract.
Editor: Interesting! Speaking of countering tactics, how do you think the setback against Real Madrid affected Barcelona’s approach in subsequent games?
Blanco: That defeat was a learning moment for Barca. They immediately went back to the drawing board and refocused on their core strategies. Resolving issues from the Clásico allowed them to dominate matches that followed, such as the emphatic wins against the Young Boys and Bayern. Getting back to basics, while integrating this aggressive offside strategy, has provided them a clear momentum boost.
Editor: It seems that momentum can make or break a season. With Barcelona now looking towards their match against Red Star, how critical is it for them to maintain this tactical approach?
Blanco: Very critical! This next match is not just about securing points; it’s about reinforcing their tactical identity. A solid performance against Red Star not only consolidates their position in the Champions League but also sends a message to other teams. Maintaining the offside trap can keep the momentum going and reassess their standing on the continental stage.
Editor: Jordi, your insights shed light on the intriguing dynamics at play within Barcelona this season. Thank you for sharing your expertise with us.
Blanco: It’s my pleasure! Barcelona has a rich history and seeing how they evolve under these tactics is exciting. I look forward to discussing it more as the season progresses.
Editor: We look forward to it as well! Thank you again, and we’ll keep an eye on how Barcelona navigates their upcoming challenges.
Blanco: Thank you!