Watching FC Barcelona from the stands is sheer entertainment at the moment. 26 goals in 6 matches is simply incredible, and whenever Lamine Yamal and Raphinha have the ball at their feet, it seems like a FIFA game on the easiest mode. The press is right on the throats of the defenders, the transitions are sharp as a knife, and there is this aura of self-confidence that emanates from the team, reminiscent of the good old days in Catalonia.
While they are undoubtedly fun to watch, one has to admit that vibes and only attack will get the team only so far in the Champions League.
The Levante blip
Take the thrilling win against Levante as an example. Everything went smoothly for Barca in the beginning, as the team scored two goals in the first half and had the game seemingly under control. However, right at the moment when the entire team seemed to relax, a ten-minute blip allowed the visitors to score twice in that match.
The whole team seemed to lose its' engine, and the defenders had to ask for help from their midfield. For a brief moment, the entire pitch was conquered by Levante, which is almost impossible when facing such a high-octane team as Barca.
If that happened again in the league, there would be nothing to worry about as Flick's men would still find a way to win the game. However, if Barcelona does not learn to deal with such surprises in the Champions League, the games against the Europe's elite will be pure suffering.
Learning to pull the handbrake
Nobody sane wants Hansi Flick to take the octane out of FC Barcelona and turn the team into a boring 1-0 accumulator. Neither Yamal nor Raphinha want to lose their ability to launch the attack on the opponent's half with a single touch of the ball.
The real task that Flick has to solve with his team in the coming months is teaching young lions to modulate the gas.
When a team scores two goals away from home, they do not have to launch an eight-man attack on the opponent's defence every single minute of the match. Sometimes, it is necessary to pull the handbrake, keep the ball rolling in the opponent's half, and force their midfield to perform actions that they have not anticipated.
If Hansi Flick manages to do that, then FC Barcelona will not merely be the most entertaining team in Europe. It will have a realistic chance to actually win the Champions league that they desperately need to.
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