Barcelona’s defence key to successful Champions League campaign

Barcelona’s defence kept Manchester United at bay over the course of the two legs.

Lionel Messi and Philippe Coutinho received all the plaudits after their stunning efforts secured a comfortable 3-0 victory at Camp Nou that ensured they moved through to the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2015. But Barcelona’s defence deserves credit for shutting down Manchester United’s attack and limiting them to a few chances.

Over both legs, United struggled to break down Barcelona and relied on the pace of Marcus Rashford to get in behind the defence, as well as quick transitions, to create openings. Barcelona were able to keep them scoreless in both matches to add to their clean sheet against Lyon in the Round of 16 first leg.

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Lyon’s consolation goal in the 5-1 win is the only one they have conceded in the knockout stages so far and Tottenham Hotspur are the only other side aside from the French side to score at Camp Nou in the Champions League this season, although that game mattered little for the Catalans as they had already secured first place in the group. This impressive defensive record has been evident in other competitions, as Real Madrid were only able to score two goals across four matches and Atletico Madrid scored one over two matches.

Having a solid defensive platform allows the team to focus on patiently probing the opposition for openings with their short passing possession-based style. They can also build leads which forces the opposition to come on to them leaving more space for the attackers to work in. Being able to play the game at their own tempo suits their attacking rhythm and brings the best out of the midfield.

Gerard Pique has marshalled the defence expertly this season and Clement Lenglet has shown his importance multiple times through blocks and by covering teammates with well-timed, last-minute tackles. Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto or Nelson Semedo have been balancing out their responsibilities well to ensure the defence isn’t isolated, while also supporting the attack. If the opposition is able to get past that then they come up against the formidable figure of Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who is an expert shot-stopper and comfortable with the ball at his feet.

The main issue during Luis Enrique’s era was that they were forced to outscore the opposition due to a leaky defence — especially away from home — caused by an open style of play to incorporate the M-S-N trident. Ernesto Valverde contrasts with that due to his cautiousness which cost them in Rome last season, but he appears to have got the balance right this time around. In Lionel Messi, they have the greatest player in world football, so they can rely on him for moments of magic, although there is a stellar cast around him.

It looks like Liverpool will be their opponents in the next round and their front three will test the defence to the limit through their combinations in tight spaces and rapid pace on the counter. However, the defence has turned into a formidable unit under Pique’s leadership after a slow start to the season, and they will be more than ready to face the upcoming challenge as they look to reach the final for the first time since 2015 and continue their hunt for a third treble.