Barça suffered an inopportune setback yesterday, after losing in the League against Girona. A defeat that not only places the Blaugrana team fourth in the table and seven points behind Míchel's team, the sole leader, but also highlights one of the biggest problems for Xavi's team this season: their lack of defensive solidity.
To date, the culés have conceded 18 goals against in 16 games, three times as many as last season at this point in the championship and only two less than in 38 games during the entire 22-23 season (20). "The first goal is a transition in which we did not adjust the high pressure on Yan Couto well and they caught our back," the Terrassa coach analyzed yesterday.
The Blaugrana coach has seen how one of the hallmarks that made his team League champion the previous season has faded. A version that made Ter Stegen collect the Zamora Trophy with only 18 goals conceded in 38 games, 26 clean sheets and an average of 0.473 goals conceded per game.
An image that contrasts with what Iñaki Peña experienced last Sunday. Girona's four goals yesterday in Montjuïc once again show the Blaugrana's lack of defensive strength, as Barça had not received that many goals at home for five years. Specifically, since November 11, 2018.
Ernesto Valverde led the culé bench at that time and took on a rout that afternoon against Quique Setién's Real Betis at the Camp Nou (3-4). Junior Firpo, Joaquín, Lo Celso and Canales were the architects of the green and white victory. Likewise, Deportivo de la Coruña and Valencia were able to score four goals in the Blaugrana fiefdom in 2003 with a result of 2-4 in their favor.
On the other hand, the Blaugrana team had 28 wins, six draws and three losses last year, making the narrow victory a feat. Barça achieved 11 wins thanks to 'unocerism', thus leaving their goal unbeatable: five at home (Celta, Getafe, Valencia, Atlético de Madrid and Osasuna) and six away (Mallorca, Valencia, Atlético, Girona, Villarreal and Athletic Club ).
"What about 1-0? Barcelona won the first European Cup, with a goal from Koeman, 1-0 and nothing happened. Given the choice, I prefer a 5-4 or 5-0 but it is difficult to score goals "Winning 1-0 is a fantastic result. It's wonderful," Xavi acknowledged in March about a result that gave him 33 points in the league.
Barça has so far had seven clean sheets, while in the 2022-23 season they already had 12 in the first 16 days of the championship. They only conceded against four teams: Real Sociedad (one goal on matchday 2), Real Madrid (three on matchday 9), Osasuna (one on matchday 14) and Espanyol (one on matchday 15).
The Blaugranas are currently fourth in the standings with 34 points, tied with Atlético de Madrid, who still have to play their postponed match against Sevilla. Ahead of the culés is Real Madrid, second with 39, and Girona, the sole leader with 41. "We are seven points away, but there is more than half of the season left. There is still time to come back," commented De Jong , after the defeat against the people of Girona.
On the horizon, the culés face their last European match of the group stage of the Champions League this Wednesday against Antwerp, in Belgium. Xavi's team needs to add one point to advance to the round of 16 as group winners. Meanwhile, the Dutch midfielder left a clear message about the roadmap that the Blaugrana dressing room must follow: “We have to improve.”
