Barcelona’s key defensive weapon this season: The offside trap

Since Hansi Flick’s appointment as Barcelona manager, the team has undergone a notable defensive transformation.

Flick’s approach has been particularly evident with the emergence of Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez forming a solid centre-back partnership.

While Barcelona have conceded nine goals in nine matches, which doesn’t place them as the best defence in La Liga, their defensive efficiency shines through in other areas—especially in their use of the offside trap.

Flick’s efficient use of offside trap

Flick has expertly incorporated this technique into Barcelona’s defensive system, helping the team catch opponents offside an impressive 75 times this season, reports Diario SPORT.

This tally includes 62 offsides in league matches alone, making Barcelona one of the most disciplined defences in European football when it comes to nullifying attacks.

Inigo Martinez has played a key role in Barcelona’s defensive success (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Their closest rival in this area, Brighton, have only managed 31 offsides—just half of Barcelona’s total.

A standout example of this tactic came in Barcelona’s recent victory over Alaves, where they caught their opponents offside 11 times—a record for this season.

This disciplined approach stifled Alaves’ attacking ambitions and contributed to a clean sheet. It was also a continuation of Barcelona’s ongoing success in frustrating opponents.

In fact, throughout the season, seven goals have been disallowed against Barcelona due to offside calls.

While Barcelona may not boast the league’s most robust defence in terms of goals conceded, their ability to disrupt and neutralize opposition attacks through the offside trap has been a crucial aspect of their success.

This has been complemented by their potent attack, which leads the league with 28 goals.