MEDIA: Barca’s Current Weaknesses Are Gradually Being Figured Out by Opponents, But Very Few Are Truly Exploiting Them

On October 6th at 22:15, in the 9th round of the 2024-25 La Liga season, Barcelona defeated Alavés 3-0 away from home. After the match, media personality Miqi Tu-Liu Shisì analyzed the game.

He said, “Barcelona demonstrated a very strong transition pace between attack and defense, even dragging their opponents into their own accelerated transition rhythm. Whether it was in attack or defense, they engaged in a tug-of-war of offside and anti-offside, ultimately compressing the field to achieve an acceleration in counterattacks. The core figure in the team’s counterattacks is Rafinha, who is the soul of the speed-up. Lewandowski, perhaps the most enduring veteran in football history, has become the biggest beneficiary of this style of play and delivered the most crucial goal for Barcelona. Pedri’s ball handling is simple yet profound, fully demonstrating what it means to be where the ball is. Under such a rhythm, La Liga opponents cannot defend against it.”

Additionally, Liu Shisì added, “Of course, Barca’s backline has many issues, especially when opponents have figured them out, resorting to counter-attacks with long passes targeting the defensive zones of Barca’s fullbacks. However, since Alavés does not have wingers as good as those of Zaragoza, their impact on Barcelona was not as effective as Osasuna’s, but the opportunities still arose. It must be said that Barca’s current weaknesses are gradually being understood by opponents, but very few are truly exploiting them. This might also be Flick’s confidence—my offense is stronger than yours. You know where my weakness lies, but you can’t knock me down.”