Over the previous yr, Barcelona made it a norm to not solely register wins however to take action with a dominant margin.
Scoring three or 4 targets in opposition to opponents, thus, turned a normalcy and so they made it a degree to repeatedly even put a number of targets into the again of the web.
Commercial
Yesterday, nonetheless, they have been as they conceded 4 targets from an impressed Sevilla aspect, who took full benefit of their sluggishness and exploited it to the utmost.
Los Nervionenses have been the higher aspect within the opening half by far and will have been 4 targets clear by half-time.
Just some Wojciech Szczesny brilliance and a Marcus Rashford purpose, nonetheless, noticed the half finish 2-1 in Sevilla’s favour.
Barcelona had their probabilities after the break however scuffed all of them, permitting the hosts to attain two extra and register a thumping 4-1 win on the evening.
Considered one of Flick’s worst
This was arguably one of many worst performances from Barcelona below Flick. (Photograph by Fran Santiago/Getty Photos)
Commercial
Barcelona haven’t had too many worse performances below Hansi Flick than they confirmed yesterday, and it’s protected to say that the sport the Catalans dished out at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan was one of many worst they’ve performed in recent times.
Certainly, one remembers Barcelona’s hunch in direction of the tip of 2024 after they collapsed a number of occasions in La Liga to fall considerably behind the leaders.
At no level, even in that hunch, nonetheless, have been they so clearly outclassed.
Final season’s hunch was a query of being dominant however failing to capitalise. This time round, the difficulty appears to be vastly completely different, with the crew wanting sub-par and outdone for the second recreation in a row.
Commercial
Barcelona merely couldn’t string two passes collectively within the first half in opposition to Sevilla and regarded fully out of their depth when confronted with their resilient press.
The defence was all over and the hosts had no hassle breaking the offside lure in anyway.
It’s absurd how all of the gamers donning the Barcelona crest on the evening might have a collective off-day, for even the midfield regarded leggy and fatigued for the higher a part of the evening.
Yamal and Raphinha’s absences weighed closely in assault, and there was no working from future for Barcelona.
A day of no rights
Barcelona have been offensively wasteful. (Photograph by Fran Santiago/Getty Photos)
Commercial
Regardless of a horrendous first half, Rashford’s purpose late in further time gave Barcelona a spark of hope {that a} comeback was doable ought to they present up higher after the break.
The second interval, certainly, was higher for Flick’s males, however higher than what they confirmed within the first half means barely something.
Whereas they did look higher in possession, they have been nonetheless something however deadly within the ultimate third and didn’t create half as many probabilities as they might have favored.
Even the few probabilities they did create went to waste as their ending on the evening was pathetic and so they have been compelled to pay the worth ultimately.
Commercial
In some unspecified time in the future, nonetheless, one is compelled to surprise how a lot luck can go in opposition to a crew as properly.
Robert Lewandowski, one in every of world soccer’s most deadly finishers, didn’t convert a penalty when the stress was at its highest.
At that time within the recreation, changing the spot-kick would have meant levelling the scores and setting the stage for a comeback.
Roony Bardghji then got here on and had two clear-cut probabilities that may have been put away on some other day of the week.
Nonetheless, he one way or the other managed to overlook each the possibilities and allowed Sevilla a 3rd purpose as an alternative, which quickly piled up with a fourth and left a devastating scoreline.
Commercial
Time to reset?
Barcelona conceded 4 targets in opposition to Sevilla. (Photograph by Fran Santiago/Getty Photos)
The worldwide break couldn’t have come at a greater time for Hansi Flick and Co. as they now see an pressing want to return to the drafting board and analyse what is just not working of their plan.
Extra importantly, nonetheless, the dressing room wants a critical reset on a bodily, psychological and each different stage.
Within the final worldwide break, the supervisor requested gamers to ponder on what they have been doing incorrect as a gaggle to be unconvincing with their performances.
The identical is required as soon as extra, albeit at a totally completely different stage.
Commercial
At this level, it’s clear that the Barcelona gamers require a while off to rediscover themselves and introspect.
And whereas some will get that chance over the following few weeks, most huge names won’t obtain that privilege as they are going to be on nationwide crew obligation.
The interval is equally who must be busier than ever earlier than, figuring out and rectifying the clear lacunae in his setup this season.
In spite of everything, groups are starting to decode the excessive line of defense, and there may be an pressing must tweak it with further measures.
