According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is dissatisfied with his side's defensive performance, noting a significant drop in successful offside traps this season.
In their first 16 competitive matches, Barcelona have conceded 22 goals this season, compared to 16 last season.
Flick's high-pressing tactics, which involve defending deep and applying intense pressure in the opposition's half, appear to have lost their former effectiveness. A comparison of offside statistics between the German coach's inaugural season (2024-2025) and the current campaign (2025-2026) reveals this decline. The figures speak for themselves: across 16 competitive matches, the offside tally stands at 105 to 66.
The outlet notes that last season, the team set a single-match record of 12 offside calls during the 0-4 defeat to Real Madrid in the Clásico on 26 October 2024. Against Alavés on 6 October 2024, they recorded 11 offside calls in a 0-3 victory. This season's highest tally occurred against Sevilla on 5 October 2025, with ten offside calls – ironically culminating in a 1-4 defeat for the Blaugrana.
The team's average offside count has dropped from 6.56 to under 4.21 per match. This decline is reflected in conceded goals. Last season, Barcelona shipped 16 goals in their first 16 competitive fixtures (11 in La Liga, 5 in the Champions League), averaging one goal conceded per game. This season, they have already conceded 22 goals (15 in La Liga, 7 in the Champions League), averaging 1.37 goals conceded per match.
The outlet further revealed that Flick has expressed dissatisfaction with the defensive displays in recent fixtures. Across their last two away matches (against Club Brugge and Celta Vigo), Barcelona conceded a combined total of five goals.