In comparison with a few of the different groups on this version of the UEFA Champions League, Membership Brugge are usually not essentially a slouch, particularly so after journeying to the spherical of 16 final season. A conflict in opposition to Belgium’s second greatest workforce is rarely one which stands out on a protracted checklist of league section fixtures, although, particularly when a Lamine Yamal-led Barcelona are scheduled for a go to to the port metropolis. It was destined to be a routine away sport for Hansi Flick’s facet, more likely to supply few takeaways on a day the place different European titans have been theoretically taking part in way more aggressive video games. Barcelona, although, had as a lot enjoyable as Colin Farrell’s Ray did in “In Bruges,” a movie famously targeted on how a lot Ray hates his pressured work journey to the town.
Barcelona weren’t fairly as depressing as Ray, largely as a result of Yamal makes that not possible. The 18-year-old was as soon as once more the star of his facet’s present, forcing an personal objective and notching one other otherworldly objective to his already spectacular tally. His run by means of site visitors and strike from a decent angle could be the highlight-reel worthy second with essentially the most longevity on an entertaining day on the Jan Breydel Stadium. Depart it to Flick’s Barcelona, although, to make sure Yamal’s particular person brilliance wouldn’t be sufficient to return out with all three factors on Wednesday – the guests as a substitute needed to accept a 3-3 draw, their vulnerabilities absolutely uncovered by Membership Brugge.
One of many defining options of Flick’s Barcelona is their steadfast dedication to a excessive line, all whereas making the guess that their attacking may can be sufficient to overpower the deficit in protection. It isn’t an irrational calculation, but it surely comes with its drawbacks; it could solely be barely shocking {that a} Paris Saint-Germain workforce lacking its stars can choose that lock, however because it seems, Membership Brugge can additionally wreak havoc over Barcelona’s again line.
Carlos Forbs had an outing he’ll doubtless keep in mind for the remainder of his life with two targets and an help in opposition to Barcelona, nearly fully relaxed as he contributed to every of his facet’s targets. There was a way of repetition as he inched near objective – whether or not Brugge have been in possession or Barcelona despatched numbers ahead, the prospect of dropping again method down on the checklist of priorities. Time after time, all Brugge wanted was a fast little play – discovering the area was straightforward, it was all about making small changes within the second. Forbs contorted his physique to obtain the ball and evaded the offside flag as he acquired a go and made a run earlier than Nicolo Tresoldi had the possibility for a tap-in on the primary. Forbs made a run that resembled Tresoldi’s for the second and did it one closing time for the third, an instance in how apply makes excellent.
“i do not need to discuss my outdated membership like that, however you have to name a spade a spade,” Thierry Henry mentioned on the UEFA Champions League post-match present, not mincing his phrases. “You’ll be able to’t keep it up defending like this.”
Barcelona have given their opponents quite a bit of apply within the final yr and alter, in addition to examples for them to tug from. Brugge grew to become the most recent workforce to execute a tried-and-true sport plan – 24.8% possession and 10 photographs have been no challenge for Nicky Hayen’s facet. Barcelona offered the right pathway to generate 2.06 anticipated targets, almost equal to their tally of two.10 anticipated targets from 22 photographs. Even on days the place Barcelona win, it’s a counterproductive technique, creating nervier sport states than want be.
“I am unable to bypass the truth that you retain on letting folks go and run at your objective,” Henry mentioned. “In the event you’re a workforce now, should you did not do your due diligence that Barcelona play a excessive line and you do not make the late run … Late runs. You’ll be able to go and do it each single time! Why would you set your self in a scenario when you are going to make your self endure alone? No disrespect to what Brugge did, however you defend the ball and also you defend your objective. You do not simply defend the ball when there is no such thing as a stress on it, and also you let folks run left and proper, after which they’ve possibilities left and proper each single time. That is not likely one thing that you just need to do. You are speculated to erase errors, not create them your self.”
The sport plan is flawed by itself however the points are exacerbated by Barcelona’s personnel, who’re ill-equipped for a really particular tactical method. A number of terrific defenders might not match Flick’s technique however Barcelona don’t boast a single world-class defender, boasting neither the pace to steadiness the calls for of a possession-oriented, attack-minded workforce nor the robust defensive talent to face up to an opponent’s fast assault. The issue, as at all times, is rooted within the membership’s monetary mismanagement – after they discover a new loophole in LaLiga’s guidelines to spend cash, they accomplish that on attackers and when that fails, they boast an academy that generates unimaginable offensive gamers like Yamal. There may be by no means actually sufficient cash at Barcelona to signal one world-class defender, not to mention a number of.
Wojciech Szczesny, in the meantime, could also be an improve on Inaki Pena however the once-retired goalkeeper solely gives a lot upside in objective. He’s equally answerable for defensive lapses as Barcelona’s again line is, VAR coming to his rescue late within the sport in opposition to Brugge and guaranteeing the hosts wouldn’t truly take all three factors. So long as Barcelona stay in monetary destroy – which appears like their actuality for the foreseeable future – there could also be no apparent personnel repair to those issues.
It might not be all his fault however the issues are maybe Flick’s alone to resolve, although how keen the supervisor is to alter his method is a unique story. As managers like Arne Slot, Xabi Alonso, Vincent Kompany and Luis Enrique discover success with real defensive resolve, Flick seems to be their ideological foil, maybe unsurprising for somebody who’s a technology older than most of them. He may have his justifications – not solely can Barcelona get away with it as a rule, they received a home double final season with the identical actual method. If he makes wholesale modifications to his ways, it might come as a real shock, even when it feels increasingly like an imperfect technique.
When “In Bruges“ Ray asks, “Do you think this is good?” it nearly appears like he’s asking about Barcelona’s unsustainable method to profitable the Champions League, however as Brendan Gleeson’s Ken retorts, “Sure, I do. It is known as sightseeing.” There’s just one champion on the finish of the season, and although it is too early to make a closing judgment, it actually may not be Barcelona’s yr. They make for a way more entertaining spectacle than the landmarks Ray sulks round over the course of “In Bruges,” although, like a movie one can not assist however rewatch again and again. There’s at all times leisure worth in a Barcelona sport, even when they make the identical errors time and time once more.
