Also in the final around the Copa del Rey against Real Madrid, FC Barcelona will again put on a chain of four, which is close together and is far forward on the field. The high line is high art and it carries a high risk.
There is Lamine Yamal and Raphinha in front. The two wing strikers of the world class are usually supplemented by Robert Lewandowski. However, the world class center forward is currently injured. On Saturday (April 26th, 2025, from 10 p.m. in the LiveTicker), Ferran Torres should storm in the cup final, to which many should at least say an extra class.
Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, Pedri and also Dani Olmo play in the midfield of FC Barcelona. So it makes sense to look for the weakness of the Catalans on the defensive. In fact, Barcelona received 13 goals in 18 games in the champions of the Champions League. There were 20 out of 36 teams better, even FC Bologna, who did not even reach the intermediate round as 28th.
Also in La Liga, who leads FC Barcelona six game days before the end of the season with a four -point lead over Real, Barça received the most hits of the top teams. The RC Celta from Vigo came three goals in Barcelona on the last match day. However, the hosts shot four.
Both in La Liga and in the Champions League, FC Barcelona also scored the most goals by far, and as it means that the defensive on the offensive begins, it also applies the other way around.
Close distances, horizontal and vertical
In his basic formations, Hansi Flick often changes from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-3 and the other way around. However, he never changes anything on the number of players in the back line, and he never shakes the tactics of this four -chain. The last line should be high, also in the opposing half, and it should stand closely together, i.e. with a slight distance between the full -back. The distances should also be low in the vertical direction, so that the smallest possible space results in the field players of the two teams. Ball winnings as far as possible and therefore short distances to the gate are the destination of Flicks Barcelona.
Successful offside traps in the victory in the Clásico
This tactic harbors the risk that the opponent – for example with chip balls – will reach the rather large room between the four -chain and goalkeeper. Flick encounters this risk with the offside trap. However, there were also goals from opponents and opportunities for opponents in whom Barcelona paid for this risky style of play.
But there is also the El Clásico from October 2024, which Barça won 4-0 in the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu near Real Madrid. The “royal” ran sidelines twelve times, Kylian Mbappé alone eight times.
Because of the many games, Flick also gives his defenders a break. However, the circle of those who run in the chain of four is kept small because the tactics used are particularly well -rehearsed.
As a right -back, Jules Koundé usually plays. The 26 -year -old French international came to Catalonia from FC Sevilla in 2022. In central defense, the duo Inigo Martinez and Pau Cubarsi are mostly found. The 18 -year -old Cubarsi was trained in his own young performance center La Masia, the 15 -year -old Martinez came from Athletic Bilbao in 2023. As the left defender, Alejandro Balde is number one, only 21 years old and trained in La Masia. His backup is Gerard Martin.
Tremendous program
The program in the coming over two weeks is tight. Four days after the final in the Copa del Rey, the first leg in the semi -finals of the Champions League against Inter Milan is pending. After an away game at Real Valladolid, the second leg at Inter is scheduled for May 6th, five days later Real comes to the El Clásico in La Liga in Barcelona.
Yamal, Raphinha, maybe soon Lewandowski will be in the spotlight for the games. The high line usually only becomes an issue if the risk was higher than art.