Hansi Flick’s Barcelona promised revival last season, but defensive doubts now threaten their trophy chase in the 2025/26 campaign.
When Hansi Flick walked into the Barcelona dressing room last season, the mood was different. It was one of quiet optimism and belief that something was finally clicking. The German manager had brought structure, intensity, and a brand of football that fit the club’s ideals; attacking with confidence, pressing with precision, and playing with collective discipline.
The results followed swiftly. They reclaimed the 2024/25 La Liga title, flashes of dominance against top rivals, and an emerging core led by Pau Cubarsi made fans feel like the club’s rebuilding phase was heading in the right direction.
But just a few months into this campaign, that same optimism stands at a crossroads. Barcelona’s performances have not been disastrous; they are still within touching distance of the league leaders and in contention across competitions, yet something crucial feels off.
Defensive backbone begins to fray for Barcelona
It is not the same resilient and expressive side that ended last season on such a promising note. Flick’s men have often looked uncertain, fragile, and stretched thin.
The statistics reflect that unease: after just 15 official games this season, Barcelona have conceded 20 goals, their second-worst defensive start in club history and their poorest since 1964. An average of 1.3 goals conceded per game is far from what fans expect from a side built on possession dominance and defensive solidity.
While a spate of injuries up front, including extended absences for Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski, has disrupted Barcelona’s attacking rhythm, the bigger worry lies deeper. The defence, once steady and structured under Flick, has become the team’s most glaring weakness.
It is not just about individual errors or unlucky goals. It’s systemic. Barcelona’s defensive backbone, which once looked balanced and brave, now seems indecisive and brittle.
Barcelona’s biggest mistake in the summer
That deterioration began in the summer when the club chose to let Inigo Martinez leave. The veteran centre-back was quietly one of the key pillars during the previous campaign, complementing Pau Cubarsi’s youthful energy and technical calmness with experience and leadership.
His departure to Al-Nassr on a free transfer initially appeared to be a manageable loss, at least on paper, given the expected return of a fully fit Ronald Araujo. Yet, as this season has rolled on, the decision to let Inigo go without signing a reliable replacement increasingly looks like a miscalculation that could define their campaign.
Hansi Flick’s search for defensive stability this season has been anything but straightforward. Last year’s effective pairing of Inigo Martinez and Pau Cubarsi provided both experience and poise in the heart of defence. But since Martinez’s free transfer exit, a move that was supposed to be cushioned by Araujo’s return, the defensive axis has become a revolving door of experiments, none quite cementing themselves as untouchable.
Flick’s central defence conundrum
The opening matches offered a glimpse of trust in the new direction: Pau Cubarsi on the left and Ronald Araujo on the right, with Eric Garcia and Alejandro Balde at full-back. The first result, a clean sheet, 3-0 win, suggested a solution might be within reach.
Yet, cracks emerged almost instantly. A comeback win against Levante saw the duo ship two preventable goals, and by Barcelona’s third fixture, Flick was already shuffling his deck: Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen replaced the previous centre-back duo against Rayo Vallecano. The outcome? More defensive wobbles and frequent moments of chaos under pressure.
Christensen’s persistent fitness struggles have robbed Flick of consistency. When available, the Dane brings aerial ability and calmness, but extended absences have meant reliance on less experienced or out-of-position options.
Jules Kounde, initially viewed as a right-back alternative last season, has stayed out wide only sporadically, with Flick preferring Garcia’s intelligence in reading the game and Cubarsí’s technical assurance when building from the back. Yet, none of these pairings have offered lengthy spells of confidence.
Ronald Araujo, once labelled the defensive anchor for the future, has struggled with Flick’s strict offside line. His speed and physicality remain assets, but his adaptation to the new ultra-aggressive pressing scheme has been inconsistent, occasionally leading to high-profile lapses that have directly resulted in goals conceded.
Rotations, injuries, and restlessness at the back
The German manager’s system relies on precise timing and flawless communication; it demands centre-backs who can sweep up behind an exposed midfield and prevent opponents from exploiting space in transition. When that chemistry is missing, mistakes get punished.
Amid this uncertainty, Eric Garcia’s resurgence has provided some relief. Nearly an exit candidate last summer and recently returned from a loan at Girona, Garcia has become Barcelona’s second most utilised player this season after Pedri, a testament to Flick’s faith in his anticipation, tackling, and ability to progress the ball out from the back.
Statistically, Garcia leads the team in tackles and ranks first for progressive passing distance, with a 91% pass completion rate and over 3,900 yards covered with line-breaking passes already this campaign. Still, the Spaniard’s limitations are evident, especially when paired with younger or less commanding defenders; he is no miracle worker, and Barcelona’s defensive issues cannot be addressed by individual performances alone.
Each clash brings a different centre-back combination, and with no established go-to pairing, doubts remain. Flick’s gamble, relying on tactical flexibility and squad depth instead of signing a direct Martinez replacement, may come back to haunt him if the backline is not settled soon.
The high line, high press strategy is a double-edged sword: it maximises Barcelona’s attacking potential but exposes them to repeated risks when chemistry and discipline at the back falter. For opponents, it has become clear that Barcelona’s defence is fertile ground for exploitation, and unless Flick finds answers quickly, the trophy cabinet could stay locked for this season.
The Barcelona bother: From early optimism to growing anxiety
Barcelona’s defensive instability is not just a talking point, it is a statistical fact, and it is having a real impact on the club’s hopes of lifting silverware this season. This season, defensive frailties have appeared in stark relief against strong opposition.
In the UEFA Champions League clash with Club Brugge, Barcelona allowed 23 attacking attempts, 11 of which resulted in shots, with six qualifying as ‘big chances’. A team conceding a big chance every four shots is waving a red flag; for a club built on high standards, that is unsustainable.
Real Madrid, Sevilla, and others have all managed to breach Flick’s defence more than once, capitalising on confusion, miscommunication, and overambitious pressing. Several factors feed into these numbers. The high defensive line deployed by Flick leaves acres of space in behind, requiring near-perfect coordination to avoid being exploited, something Barcelona have sorely lacked.
Injuries, inconsistent defensive pairings, and the failure to adequately replace Inigo Martinez have only amplified these vulnerabilities. While Eric Garcia and Pau Cubarsi have provided occasional stability, the revolving door at centre-back has prevented any sense of continuity or leadership from developing.
For Barcelona, the consequences are severe. In a league as competitive as La Liga, small defensive lapses have outsized effects on season outcomes. That margin for error is even thinner in knockout competitions, where a handful of bad games can end trophy ambitions outright.
If this defensive trend holds, Flick’s team risks going trophyless,not for lack of talent or attacking flair, but because the backline cannot be relied on in crunch moments. The German manager remains publicly optimistic, pointing to the possible impact of injured players returning and the hope that his system will “click” as the season progresses.
But the reality is clear: unless Barcelona finds defensive solutions, be it through tactical tweaks, improved chemistry among centre-backs, or targeted reinforcements in January, the promise of last year could be drowned out by regret and what-ifs.
