Barcelona has secured 102 victories in 133 competitive matches under Hansi Flick, but the high-risk tactical approach remains a point of intense scrutiny.
The club’s aggressive style has produced 380 goals during this tenure, while conceding 154, as reported by detikSport. Across these 133 fixtures, the team has recorded 10 draws and 21 losses.
While the offensive output has delivered back-to-back LaLiga and Supercopa de España titles along with a Copa del Rey, the high defensive line continues to leave the team vulnerable.
Ronald Koeman, a former player and manager at the club, said this setup leaves the team vulnerable to counterattacks, particularly when they fail to apply effective pressure on the ball. The 1-2 loss to Real Madrid in the recent El Clásico served as a clear example of these defensive liabilities, according to Marca.
“The Barca of Flick takes a lot of risks, but at the same time, it gives a lot to football,” Koeman told Marca. “Their style is very entertaining for the fans. There is indeed a risk with a high defensive line if there is no pressure on the ball… we already saw it against Real Madrid. However, they are on the right track.”
Beyond domestic play, the squad faces questions regarding its consistency in the Champions League. Toni Kroos, reflecting on the team’s philosophy in his podcast as cited by Goal.com, said that while the attacking style is admirable, it may struggle against teams with highly organized defenses.
Kroos argued that Barcelona often creates more chances than opponents, but in European competition, they face sides capable of scoring multiple goals from limited opportunities.
“Barcelona always tries to create more opportunities than the opponent. However, in the Champions League, you face teams that can score several goals in one match,” Kroos said, as quoted by Barca Universal on Wednesday (11/11/2026).
Kroos pointed out that the team lacks a defender capable of consistently winning one-on-one duels in large spaces, noting that they lack a player like Dayot Upamecano who can be left alone with 30 meters of space behind him.
He excluded Pau Cubarsí from this critique, labeling him the team’s best defender by a clear margin due to his strength in individual duels and the speed that helps him handle difficult situations. This vulnerability is compounded by the lack of defensive continuity, as reported by Bola.net. In the first 16 competitive matches of the season, Flick has utilized 12 different defensive combinations, a result of injuries and tactical adjustments.
The constant rotation at the back has prevented the formation of a stable foundation, with nine players deployed across the defensive sector, including Frenkie de Jong, Pau Cubarsí, Jules Koundé, Xavi Espart, Brian Farinas, and Andreas Christensen.
According to Bola.net, the same starting quartet has only appeared together three times this season: against Athletic Bilbao, Valencia, and Levante. Outside of those matches, no other defensive combination has been used more than twice, and Flick has only maintained the same backline for consecutive matches on two occasions.
Barcelona is scheduled to host Villarreal in LaLiga following the international break, followed by a trip to Azerbaijan to face Sabah in the fourth matchday of the Champions League, as noted by detikSport.
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