The presence of Christensen in the middle does not solve Barça's problems in defense

Published:18/02/2024 - 10:06h

Updated:18/02/2024 - 18:53h

Xavi Hernández once again opted for Andreas Christensen as FC Barcelona's defensive pivot in Vigo against Celta (1-2). Despite the Dane's willingness, the variant still does not give the expected results in terms of defensive order

The FC Barcelona saved the Saturday a very hard party in Vigo in front of the Celtic (1-2). By third consecutive day in LaLiga, Xavi Hernández bet by Andreas Christensen like defensive pivote, this time giving rest to Ílkay Gündogan in the centre of the Barcelona field. In spite of the effort of the Danish, the variant follows without working him to a Barça that concedes too many eases to his rivals deep down, beginning by the spaces to the hour of contragolpear.

In front of the Celtic, Christensen played 58 minutes in which it completed 3 defensive actions, with 4 recoveries and an effectiveness of passes of the 87 % (completed 34 of 39). Nevertheless, to the of Lillerod cost him cover spaces and go out with property, because of the constant overtakings of a Frenkie of Jong that, by moments, desentiende almost completely of the defensive work.

The change of Araújo 'saved' to Christensen to go out in the rest

In principle, the exit of the Danish in the halftime seemed sung after his caution by a fault on Iago Sails in the minute 38. However, the míster decided to keep him almost a chamber of hour in the complement, leaving his place in the field to a Ílkay Gündogan that neither was asertivo the Saturday. The reason, fundamentally, had to see with the exit, 'by caution' of Ronald Araújo.

The movement forced to Of Jong to move to the role of only pivote not to sacrifice the diagram, although the Barça carried already several minutes with a terrible disorder deep down. In this sense, the Danish has missed the work of the of Arkel to recover more balloons, since the Dutch is used to to go up too much to the attack, neglecting the mark with asiduidadl

After the party in Balaídos, Xavi valued the performance of the team and the attitude of his players. "We have competed better that the day of Granada. We have dominated, we have been aggressive in the duels, the defensive line has not suffered a lot although his goal comes by a clear ours error because we are not concentrated. It is missing us clairvoyance in attack, the last pass, the last centre, choose well... There are things very positive. It touches us suffer and win of form agónica by not sentencing, is the summary of the season", puntualizó the egarense.