Flick's Barça Keeps Growing: Not Conceding Goals is Also Important

FC Barcelona has learned how to win its matches without conceding goals in 2025. Against Benfica (0-1), Hansi Flick's team held on for 68 minutes with a numerical disadvantage to take a giant step towards the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League. The team knew how to endure and strike at the right moment to keep their goal intact once again and, in addition, extend their unbeaten streak in a key week.

Despite the early red card for Pau Cubarsí, Barça maintained order in all their lines, as well as a cool head to hold the result in a first half that ended with a controversial refereeing decision for the red card forgiven to Leandro Barreiro. Between the saves of Wojciech Szczesny and the clearances of Iñigo Martínez and Ronald Araujo, the culés kept the score at zero in the second half, managing a minimal lead in the last half hour without suffering an overwhelming siege from the locals.

Barça Makes Defensive Solidity Count in 2025

In the post-match press conference, Hansi Flick expressed happiness in recognizing the effort of his players. "I am proud, they did fantastic. I told them chapeau. After going down to 10 men in the 22nd minute, it wasn't easy. It's a very big victory", Flick argued in the post-match press conference. Wednesday's match was the third victory in the Champions League without conceding goals this season, following the thrashings at home against Young Boys (5-0) and Brest (3-0).

Moreover, in 2025, the team has gone 16 matches unbeaten, with only 3 draws and 13 victories in which they have managed to keep their goal intact on 8 occasions, all with Szczesny in goal. The Polish goalkeeper has indeed been a true talisman for the culés, as since his debut in the Cup against Barbastro, the Blaugrana's unbeaten streak has continued. The average so far, in the 16 matches played this year, is 1.06 goals conceded (17). In the 25 matches played between August and December, the Catalans conceded 26 goals (1.04 per match).

⚽The 8 Matches of Barça Without Conceding Goals in 2025

1. UD Barbastro 0-4 FC Barcelona (Round of 32 of the Copa del Rey).
2. Athletic Club 0-2 FC Barcelona (Semifinals of the Supercopa de España).
3. FC Barcelona 1-0 Alavés (Matchday 22 of LaLiga).
4. Valencia 0-5 FC Barcelona (Quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey).
5. FC Barcelona 1-0 Rayo Vallecano (Matchday 24 of LaLiga).
6. UD Las Palmas 0-2 FC Barcelona (Matchday 25 of LaLiga).
7. FC Barcelona 4-0 Real Sociedad (Matchday 26 of LaLiga).
8. Benfica 0-1 FC Barcelona (First leg of the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League).