Arsenal
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F12%2Fraphinha-2-693dbddda1b15970105023.jpg?w=360&resize=360,180&ssl=1 "Barcelona 2-0 Osasuna: Highlights, man of the match, stats as Raphinha scores brace for Blaugrana")
FC Barcelona sit atop the La Liga desk following their 3-1 win over Deportivo Alaves this previous weekend, as Actual Madrid dropped factors for a 3rd consecutive sport.
Nevertheless, the efficiency on Saturday night on the Spotify Camp Nou was not fully convincing, with supervisor Hansi Flick making it clear after the match.
Barça’s defensive issues proceed to be a priority as they conceded a objective inside a minute after kickoff and had Joan Garcia to thank for safeguarding their lead with some essential stops all through the sport.
First half struggles
As highlighted by Mundo Deportivo, Flick’s Barcelona continues to battle to maintain a clear sheet within the opening 45 minutes. 17 of the 26 objectives they’ve conceded this season have come earlier than half-time.
The latest got here simply 43 seconds into the match towards Alaves within the newest LaLiga spherical. Of the 14 league matches performed, Barcelona conceded within the first 45 minutes in 9 of them.
One other putting element: of the 16 objectives conceded within the league, 13 got here on this interval.
Defensive points are one among Flick’s major issues. He has repeatedly urged his gamers to keep away from early objectives and to remain absolutely alert from kick-off, and that’s one thing the workforce has been unable to do constantly sufficient this time period.
On Matchday 2, Levante scored twice towards Barça within the first interval. Then, from Matchday 6 to Matchday 12, the workforce conceded within the first half in each league sport.
Actual Oviedo, Actual Sociedad, Sevilla (twice), Girona, Actual Madrid (twice), Elche, and Celta Vigo (twice) all put Barcelona underneath strain with objectives within the first interval.
There was a pause in Matchday 13, earlier than the development returned in Matchday 14 towards Alaves.
As for the UEFA Champions League, Barcelona conceded as soon as within the first half towards PSG and Chelsea, whereas Membership Brugge managed to web twice within the opening 45 minutes.
It’s one thing that Flick might want to work on addressing if Barcelona are to return to their finest model this season.
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F12%2Fraphinha-2-693dbddda1b15970105023.jpg?w=350&resize=350,250&ssl=1 "Barcelona 2-0 Osasuna: Highlights, man of the match, stats as Raphinha scores brace for Blaugrana")
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F12%2Fsm-azzuu-ter-stegen-692eabe00f9f5028396997.jpg?w=75&resize=75,75&ssl=1 "Marc-Andre ter Stegen: Barcelona’s transfer stance ‘becomes clear’ after Julian Nagelsmann admission")
