Barcelona’s record-breaking offside trap stifles Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid

Barcelona’s clever use of offside traps has been one of the standout features of their strategy this season, and this was especially evident during the recent El Clasico against Real Madrid. 

In this high-stakes match, Barça took their tactical approach to a new level, successfully disrupting Madrid’s attacking flow and catching their players offside a remarkable 12 times. 

This not only set a record for the season but also highlighted the effectiveness of Barcelona’s defensive organization.

Real Madrid, known for their pacey wingers like Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe, were eager to exploit spaces left in the open field. However, Barcelona defenders executed their game plan flawlessly. 

Impressively, eight of the 12 offside calls against Madrid occurred in the first half, showcasing how well Barça had studied their opponents and adjusted their defensive line accordingly.

Mbappe was the victim

One of the most notable moments came when Mbappe scored a goal, celebrating with a gesture that signified his finish over goalkeeper Inaki Pena. 

Yet, this joy was short-lived as the semi-automatic offside technology revealed that Mbappe had initiated his run too early, resulting in his goal being disallowed. 

Kylian Mbappe alone was caught offside on eight occasions. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Interestingly, during the first 20 minutes of the match, Mbappe found himself flagged for offside on four clear chances, ultimately being caught offside eight times during the entire game. 

Barcelona’s defensive strategy is becoming increasingly sophisticated, working in tandem with their potent attacking capabilities. 

Best defensive unit?

This synergy requires the defence to operate at a level comparable to the midfield, ensuring a balanced and effective team performance. 

In a previous match against Alaves, Barcelona set their own record by leaving their opponents in offside positions 11 times, a feat they surpassed against Real Madrid.

So far this season, Barcelona have disallowed a total of six goals across different matches, including three against Villarreal, two against Alaves and Young Boys, and one against Monaco. 

This impressive defensive record not only underlines the tactical prowess of Barcelona but also showcases their ability to blend defensive resilience with attacking flair.