FC Barcelona has shown enormous defensive improvement compared to last year at the beginning of 2024/25. In addition to reducing the number of goals conceded compared to last season, Hansi Flick's men lead the five major European leagues with an incredible statistic that shows the good work of a defense that has managed to recover from the significant losses of Ronald Araújo and Andreas Christensen.
According to 'Opta' data, Barça has accumulated a total of 62 offsides generated in the first 9 days of LaLiga. Only against Alavés, the Barça team managed to leave the rival forwards on 11 occasions, while, on the previous date (against Osasuna), the players of the 'rojillo' team fell into the offside trap a dozen times. Rayo and Valadolid (4) were the rivals that suffered the least offsides against the culés, while Valencia, Girona, Getafe and Villarreal added 7 offsides, which are added to those suffered by Athletic (5).
In Europe, no club comes close to this number of offsides caused. In England, Brighton (31) and Fulham (29) are the teams that work best with this tactic, while in LaLiga Osasuna (26) and Athletic Club (25) appear as Barça's escorts in that section, with less than half of offsides achieved. The Barça offsides have increased along with the team's offensive disposition, taking advantage of the high pressure and the compact block between the lines to neutralize their rivals.
Barça's defense regains the confidence of 2022/24
In that sense, the team has recovered part of the defensive solidity that allowed the team led by Xavi Hernández to win LaLiga two seasons ago. In 2022/23, Barça only conceded 20 goals in 38 games and, at this point in the championship, they had barely conceded 4 goals (in 9 games), 5 less than in 24/25. In 23/24, with the exception of the visit to Pamplona (4-2), the culés have not conceded more than 1 goal per game.
The Catalan defensive performance last season was very different. Barça received half of the goals conceded in the entire previous LaLiga in the first 9 games (10), with a balance of 6 wins and 3 draws (21 points). Not in vain, the culés closed the first round with 22 goals conceded, a couple more than in the 38 rounds of 22/23. With Hansi Flick on the bench, the team not only defends better, but also mentally assimilates each goal conceded better. And, when rivals bet on the counterattack, offside has been the ideal solution to avoid serious problems.