FC Barcelona is going through one of its most worrying defensive stages. Hansi Flick's team has conceded a goal in 15 of its last 16 matches and only managed to keep a clean sheet against Athletic Club. In the remaining games, the opponent needed very little to breach the Blaugrana goal, fueling a trend that is already perceived as structural.
The problem is compounded in the UEFA Champions League, where Barça has conceded in their last nine consecutive matches, equaling their worst historical record since an identical streak registered between October 2023 and September 2024. The system's fragility has turned every rival approach into a real threat for a Barça that, despite competing well in attack, struggles to prevent themselves from being scored against with excessive ease
- GAMES PLAYED: 22
- GOALS CONCEDED: 31 (1.40 PER GAME)
- GAMES CONCEDING GOALS: 18
- GAMES WITHOUT CONCEDING GOALS: 4
- CONSECUTIVE GAMES CONCEDING: 5 (CURRENT)
- GAME WITH MOST GOALS CONCEDED: 4
The match against Eintracht Frankfurt once again highlighted the team's lack of solidity. Once again, the opponent's first arrival ended in a goal. The streak began last season, in the 3-1 defeat against Borussia Dortmund. Since then, the team has not managed to keep a clean sheet in the continental competition again, a situation that has conditioned their performance and has become a repetitive burden
Only four clean sheets all season
The diagnosis is clear: this Barça has a structural defensive problem. Of the 22 matches played this season, they have only kept a clean sheet in four. The average is devastating: 1.4 goals conceded per game, which rises to 2 goals conceded per match when playing away from home.
- Conceded in 15 of the last 16 matches.
- Conceded in 9 consecutive Champions League matches.
- 1.4 goals conceded per game this season.
- 2 goals conceded on average when playing away.
- Only 4 clean sheets in 22 official matches.
The conclusion is stark: Barça fails to maintain a defensive structure that minimizes risks. Every opponent's approach forces the team to row against the current. The contrast with other recent records is evident.
In previous seasons, even during periods of inconsistency, Barça managed to hold its own defensively. Now, the feeling is the opposite: any rival action, however isolated it may seem, ends up generating real danger
A Barça That Concedes Too Easily
The perception in the locker room is unanimous: Barça concedes goals with a ease uncharacteristic of an elite team. The opponent's first chance usually turns into a goal. What used to be an isolated incident has become a pattern.
The causes are multiple. On one hand, the team struggles to control defensive transitions, one of the most critical aspects in today's football. On the other, the defense accumulates coordination problems, lost duels, and errors in reading key situations
The absences and accumulated minutes don't help
The absences of players like Ronald Araújo have had a direct impact. Furthermore, fundamental pieces like Eric García, Cubarsí, or Gerard Martín have accumulated a very high number of minutes, exposing them to evident wear and tear. The squad, especially in the defensive line, has had less rotation than Flick would have liked.
The situation of the Uruguayan, temporarily sidelined to attend to mental health issues, forced Hansi Flick to readjust defensive roles and structures. The German coach has full confidence in the center-back's return, but in the short term, Barça is competing without its second captain and leader in the back line.
Although the situation is serious, it is not seen as irreversible at the club. Flick is confident that competitive continuity, the recovery of injured players, and the adjustment of certain automatisms will end up correcting a trend that has weighed down the team since the start of the season