Barca Breakdown (FC Barcelona)

Barca needed a win to keep their strong lock on La Liga, as we're starting to wind down this turbulent, yet exciting season of football. Coming to town was Betis, a club fighting Villarreal for Europa League football. As we approached the 80th minute or so, the blowout became a must watch experience though, as Lamine Yamal made his debut for Barca's senior team, the youngest ever player to do so. The Camp Nou was raucous with excitement, as the Moroccan/Spanish winger made his way onto the legendary Camp Nou pitch, and potentially opened up a new chapter as a cornerstone for Barca's future. His debut was exciting nonetheless, as Yamal almost scored a goal and gave two breathtaking passes that unlocked Betis' defense.

Ferran Torres scored the match-winner as Barcelona secured another 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid at Spotify Camp Nou. With this win, Barça edge closer toward the LaLiga title. Moreover, this win vs Atletico also stops the negative streak of results that Barcelona had in the last couple of weeks.   The first half saw Barcelona in control of possession, but Atletico had a couple of good chanced. However, just before the break, Raphinha found Ferran, and the Spanish winger scored the winner. Barça restore their 11-point lead over Real Madrid with just eight games to go.   Atletico's 13-game unbeaten streak — stretching back to Barça's win at the Metropolitano in January — came to an end. But Barcelona were close to scoring more vs Atletico. Gavi, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski all missed chances to seal the win earlier. Although Atletico also had their moments. On his return to Camp Nou, Antoine Griezmann hit the bar inside 40 seconds and was Atletico's biggest threat throughout. Furthermore, the Frenchman also drew two saves from Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who kept a 23rd clean sheet in 30 LaLiga games.

With a win, Barca would extend their lead atop La Liga to 15 points. And with the game at home, Barca truly couldn't squander this golden opportunity. For Barca's title hopes, this match seemed very important in terms of wrapping up La Liga as quickly as possible. A chance to go 15 points clear of Real Madrid certainly can't be taken for granted, which is why many expected Barca to at least come out with energy and feistiness. But surprising to us, Barca came out with almost zero energy. Girona found it comfortable when they had possession, cycling around their own half with efficiency, while making Barca's press look rather pedestrian.

It wasn't the El Clasico we all hoped for. Far from it. Barça arrived to the game with many missing players. However, this doesn't mean they shouldn't get a better result. Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid beat Barça 4-0 to advance to the Copa del Rey final.

The BarcaBreakdown is back discussing FC Barcelona's 0-4 victory away against Elche in La Liga. Barca scored 4 goals: 2 by Lewandowksi and one each by Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres. FC Barcelona is now 15 points clear of Real Madrid, who Barca play in a Copa Del Rey El Clasico on Wednesday. Barca took care of business in an exciting way, with goals galore, and even some exciting minutes from Pablo Torre and La Masia prospect Aleix Garrido. Who by the way, is an intriguing midfield prospect that Xavi himself rates pretty highly.

BARCELONA are 12 points clear after beating Real Madrid in El Clasico! So happy to have BarcaBreakdown episodes with happy feelings. Lord knows it has been a long time.  

The BarcaBreakdown  is back covering FC Barcelona's 0-1 victory at San Mames against Athletic Club Bilbao. Raphinha scored the games only goal with an assist from Sergio Busquets, as had happened last week for Barca. Marc Andre Ter Stegen continued to show he is the MVP of this Barcelona La Liga campaign, with massive saves to upset Ernesto Valverde taking on his previous club.   Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarcaBreakdown

The Barca Breakdown is back with FC Barcelona's 1-0 victory against Valencia at the Camp Nou. Raphinha scored a beautiful header from a nice Busquets assist. Ronald Araujo picked up a red card, largely due to a poor back pass from Jules Kounde. It looks like Araujo will only miss the Athletic Bilbao game, but there are worries he may have to miss the Clasico vs. Real Madrid as well.

BarcaBuzz TV is back discussing FC Barcelona's victory 0-1 against Real Madrid in Madrid. It wasn't a stellar performance by the “Xavineta”. But in a way, the win tonight in ‘El Clasico' was bigger than the 4-0 win last season. Mainly because the team had to play without the 3 best players in attack. And yes, it could never be a pretty FC Barcelona game at Madrid. However, the fact that the team collectively defended the lead and were able to win the game was impressive. Now, the team will have to keep holding the lead at the top of La Liga. Furthermore, in the 2nd leg the squad should be full again. And with Lewandowski, Dembele and Pedri at the Camp nou, we should expect more.

The BarcaBreakdown is back discussing the 1-0 loss of FC Barcelona vs. Almeria, with the worst performance of the season by Xavi's men. Lewandowski continues to struggle greatly, with very little impact on the game.   The rotations to rest Kounde, Araujo and Balde seemed to backfire as Almeria scored on a quick counterattack. Gavi again picks up a yellow, one that will cause him to miss the next game against Valencia in La Liga. We really, really miss Pedri and Dembele....

The BarcaBreakdown is back discussing FC Barcelona's 2-0 victory at Camp Nou against Cadiz. FC Barcelona remains 8 points ahead of Real Madrid in the La Liga Title Race. Ferran Torres put in his first impressive performance in months and may be due to start against Manchester United with Gavi, Pedri, and Dembele out for the Europa League clash. Sergi Roberto also performed well, scoring a goal against Cadiz. Xavi seems to favor him as a midfield replacement without Pedri.

BarcaBuzz TV is back discussing the 2-2 draw between FC Barcelona and Manchester United in the Europa League. Raphinha led Xavi's Barca with a goal and assist, while Marcus Rashford scored along with a Joules Kounde OG. Xavi puzzled many before the game when he deviated from the strong Kounde-Araujo-Christensen-Balde back line, in favor of Marcus Alonso and Jordi Alba. Unfortunately, Pedri picked up a knock that may have him out for a month.

The BarcaBreakdown is back with Pablo Wools-Blanco (@pabloWBofficial) to discuss the FC Barcelona vs. Manchester United Europa League gaming coming up Thursday. FC Barcelona are on fire, as Xavi has lead the team to 0 losses so far in 2023. Barca fans are certainly feeling good about the team with Frenkie De Jong, Ter Stegen, Balde, Pedri, Kounde etc. playing at their absolute best for FC Barcelona. Unfortunately, Barcelona will be missing Ousmane Dembele and Busquets, though Kessie and Raphinha have replaced them well so far.   However, Manchester United are also looking very strong under Erik Ten Hag, with Marcus Rashford on absolute fire lately. As always, Casemiro will be a familiar foe for Barca at the Camp Nou Thursday. Lissandro Martinez and Marcel Sabitzer will be unable to play due to suspensions, they also have Christian Eriksen injured.   What do you predict will be the final score? Let us know in the comments!    Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarcaBreakdown https://twitter.com/PabloWBOfficial

The BarcaBreakdown is back breaking down FC Barcelona's 0-1 victory away against Villareal. Xavi's Barca went up 11 points over Real Madrid thanks to a beautiful connection between Pedri and Lewandowski for the game's only goal. With Sergio Busquets out for more weeks, and Barcelona's huge Europa League match against Manchester United coming up midweek, Xavi went with Kessie in the 4 man midfield alongside Frenkie De Jong, Gavi, and Pedri. Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Barca_Buzz https://twitter.com/BarcaBreakdown

The BarcaBreakdown returns to discuss the HUGE 3-0 victory for FC Barcelona over Sevilla in La Liga. With Real Madrid dropping points to Mallorca earlier in the day, the Sevilla game at Camp Nou presented Xavi's Barca with a huge match to take an even bigger Liga lead. Unfortunately, Sergio Busquets was injured in the game's early minutes, requiring Kessie to come in and support Frenkie De Jong, Gavi, and Pedri. Jordi Alba, Raphinha, and Gavi all scored against Sevilla, cementing a wonderful second half in front of the Barcelona faithful. Follow me on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/BarcaBreakdown

The BarcaBreakdown is back discussing FC Barcelona's huge victory away at Real Betis in La Liga. Lewandowski and Raphinha both scored, with Alejandro Balde and Sergio Busquets putting in great appearances. Once again Pedri and Gavi looked great as Xavi's Barca continue to impress in 2023. Huge month of February with 2 games against Manchester United coming up in the Europa League! Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarcaBreakdown

The BarcaBreakdown is back discussing FC Barcelona's 1-0 victory away against Girona, thanks to a scrappy goal from Pedri. Unfortunately, Xavi's side were without Robert Lewandowski due to his last red card suspension, and Ousmane Dembele appeared to pick up a quadriceps injury. Pedri scored thanks to a Jordi Alba cross and a bit of fortune that Girona's goalkeeper missed the cross.

The BarcaBreakdown is back covering the FC Barcelona 1-0 victory against Real Sociedad in the Copa Del Rey Quarterfinals. A world-class performance from Ousmane Dembele, including a goal, helped carry Barca through to the Semifinals on a night when the whole team performed well. Unfortunately, Barca was unable to convert on great scoring opportunities by Lewandowski, Frenkie De Jong, and Gavi. Thankfully, Xavi said postgame that Pedri was substituted for a minor knock, but will be available this weekend. Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarcaBreakdown

The BarcaBreakdown is back with an FC Barcelona vs. Real Sociedad Copa Del Rey Quarter Finals preview. In their first meeting this season, Barca won 4-1 against La Real after a huge Ansu Fati substitution turned the game early in the season.

The BarcaBreakdown is back discussing the latest BOMBSHELL reporting from Gerard Romero....and from almost no one else. Romero is reporting Lionel Messi, World Cup Champion and FC Barcelona Legend, is reconsidering his contract renewal with PSG. Romero reports after the World Cup, Messi's priorities have changed. Will Joan Laporta attempt to get Messi back to Barca? Do you want Messi Back? Does Messi want to come back? Let me know in the comments!

The BarcaBreakdown is back with FC Barcelona defeating Getafe 1-0 at the first La Liga game at Camp Nou in 2023. Pedri scored a goal from a wonderful Raphinha cross to put Xavi's Barca up 6 points in La Liga (for now..). Barcelona will now be looking onward to the Copa Del Rey match against Real Sociedad on Wednesday.   Thankfully, Barca took home 3 points with Ronald Araujo, Frenkie De Jong, and Robert Lewandowski (red card suspension) all unavailable for the game.

Barca Buzz TV is back with FC Barcelona beating AD Cueta to reach the Copa Del Rey Quarter Finals. Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Frank Kessie, and Ansu Fati all scored to help Xavi's men continue their string of good performances.   Thankfully, Xavi was able to rest Frenkie De Jong, Ousmane Dembele, Ronald Araujo, and Jules Kounde for the full 90 minutes, with a La Liga game against Getafe looming this Sunday. Real Madrid is 3 points behind, so it is crucial for Barca to rest players when possible in the coming months.

The Barca Breakdown celebrates FC Barcelona's victory over Real Madrid in the Super Cup. Gavi's absolutely amazing performance lead the way in what was a truly dominate win from Xavi's Barca as they captured their first trophy. Lewandowski, Gavi, and Pedri all scored and assisted each other during the rout in Riyadh.   Xavi, as he did against Atletico, went with a four man midfield of Busquets, Frenkie De Jong, Pedri and Gavi. This turned out to be crucial with all four players putting in one of their best performances this season.

The Barca Breakdown is back with the FC Barcelona 2-2 victory on penalties against Real Betis in the Spanish Super Cup Semi-Final! Robert Lewandoski and Ansu Fati had a goal each to help Barca reach the Super Cup Final against Real Madrid. Marc-Andre Ter Stegen proved to be the key player for Barcelona again, adding to his impressive goalkeeping resume in the 2022/2023 season. Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarcaBreakdown

FC Barcelona took 3 huge points against Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano, leaving Barca top of the league after Real Madrid's dropped points against Villareal. Xavi's Barca went ahead early in the 22nd minute as Ousmane Dembele scored a huge goal thanks to a beautiful run from Pedri and nice touch by Gavi. The game became nervy after, however, as Barca lost control and our old foe/friend Antoinne Griezmann lead Atleti in the search for a goal. However, the wonderful backline of Balde, Christensen, Araujo, and Kounde helped Marc Andre Ter Stegen keep another clean sheet in La Liga!   Xavi experimented with a four man midfield of Busquets and Frenkie De Jong behind Pedri and Gavi, with only Ousmane Dembele and Fati up front with Robert Lewandowski serving his 3 match ban. Unfortunately, substitute Ferran Torres received a red card, adding to the recent red cards of Jordi Alba and Robert Lewandowski.

The BarcaBreakdown is back with a match review of FC Barcelona's 1-1 draw against Espanyol, featuring goals by Marcus Alonso and Joselu. Xavi's Barca returned after the World Cup (won by Lionel Messi!!) and immediately entered a derby versus Espanyol marred by the awful officiating from Mateu Lahoz. We did see Xavi rest some players who recently came back from international duty, such as Kounde and Dembele from France, as well as Araujo not featuring as he slowly gets reintegrated with the team after injury recovery. The first half saw FC Barcelona apply the most pressure, culminating with the Alonso goal assisted by Christensen. However, we did see ineffective play from Ansu Fati and Raphinha. Xavi decided to use Frenkie De Jong, Pedri, and Gavi in the midfield, a continuation of the last few games where we have seen Busquets slowly lose his place as an every game starter. The second half was a Lahoz fiest, filled with a double-yellow red card for Jordi Alba, with both cards occurring within 5 minutes of each other. Espanyol also received the 2 reds, though one was rescinded after a VAR review. Barcelona are now level on points with Real Madrid for the La Liga lead, though Barca currently have the lead on goal difference.   https://www.youtube.com/@BarcaBuzzTV

The BarcaBreakdown discuss Ronald Araujo's call up for the World Cup with Uruguay after recovering from thigh surgery. FC Barcelona must not be too happy with Araujo playing, as we experienced Samuel Umtiti hurting his knee permanently playing for France (and winning) in 2018. However, Araujo already had surgery and is recovering quicker than expected, which hopefully helps reduce any chance of injury. Here are the other Barca players at the World Cup 2022: Spain: Eric Garcia, Ansu Fati, Pedri, Gavi, Busquets, Ferran Torres, and Jordi Alba France: Ousmane Dembele and Jules Kounde Denmark: Eric Christensen Poland: Robert Lewandowski Brazil: Raphinha Netherlands: Frenkie De Jong and Memphis Depay Germany: Marc-Andre Ter Stegen

The Barca Breakdown reviewed FC Barcelona's Victory against Osasuna. A game that seemed impossible to win after going down one goal and a man, Barca were able to muster the strength to take 3 points. This season, it has been atypical to see Barca perform well in the second half. But when it mattered most, Barca were able to score 2 goals and are now clear 5 points ahead of Madrid. The timing is perfect as all of soccer is heading into the international break for the World Cup. Barca were able to make their final mark and really solidify their place at the top of the La liga table.    Subscribe to our channel for coverage of everything FC Barcelona - Thank you for your support! 

The Barca Breakdown reviewed FC Barcelona's Victory against Valencia. A last minute goal by Lewandowski, assisted by Raphinha, gives Barcelona the win! However, the overall performance of the team was lackluster. Players look tired and off target with shots and passing. Physical and mental fatigue may be dwindling Barca's performances aside from all the individual injuries that riddle the team. The one saving grace Barca's La Liga record holds strong in run with Real Madrid and Barca are able to weather the storm of the October schedule. Two Liga games are left before the international break. Can Barca finish strong?     Subscribe to our channel for coverage of everything FC Barcelona - Thank you for your support! 

The Barca Breakdown reviewed FC Barcelona's defeat against Bayern Munish. Even before the game, Barca Europa League fate was sealed as Inter beat Plzen 4-0. With Barca knocked out of the Champions League two years in a row in the group stages, who is to blame? We tackle this question by addressing Xavi record this season, the players, and the Barca board. There were high expectations to the season and having them end again in harsh fashion has left the fan base split. Can Barca still make something of the season? Subscribe to our channel for coverage of everything FC Barcelona - Thank you for your support!

The Barca Breakdown reviewed FC Barcelona's victory against former manager, Ernesto Valverde's Athletic Bilbao. Xavi has really grown and chosen to try new lineups/strategies to adjust their play. This included playing 4 midfielders allowing Barca to control the midfield and push players forward. The star players were Dembele, Balde, and Frenkie De Jong. Additionally, Roberto played way more offensively adding to interplay with Demeble. This allowed Dembele to run in open spaces and connect with other players scoring a goal and contributing with 3 assists. Barca are on a upswing. Can Barca continue this trend in bigger profile games, including Wednesday's game against Bayern at the Camp Nou?   Subscribe to our channel for coverage of everything FC Barcelona - Thank you for your support! 

The Barca Breakdown reviewed FC Barcelona's victory against the Yellow Submarines, Villareal. The team that Barca lost to in their final game of last season at the Camp Nou. However, the tables were turned today's game as Barca were able to score 3 goals in the first half. Lewandowski scored a brace and face scored the third. The performance was overwhelmingly positive with Barca maintaining much of the possession and creating many opportunities. It's hard to tell what the reason behind Barca's success was as Xavi started a rather different line-up as of recently. We saw Frenkie De Jong start as the pivot in place of Busquets as well as Fati starting on the left wing and Torres on the right wing. Was it the midfield that provided the catalyst for the victory or was it the wingers? Could it also have been that Villareal did not perform very well and Barca took advantage? Whatever the case, Barce seems to be able to capitalize against many La Liga teams, but generally, in higher profile games, against strong teams Barca cannot find the same edge. Barca will face Athletic Bilbao and the return of Ernie Valverde in Sunday's game. Then they have another test against Bayern Munich midweek in the Champions League.  Subscribe to our channel for coverage of everything FC Barcelona - Thank you for your support!

The Barca Breakdown reviewed FC Barcelona's defeat in El Clasico. As Real Madrid and Barca were tied on points heading into the game, a victory was crucial for either team. Although, it was Madrid who wanted it more. They dominated Barca in the transition and midfield control. However, it wasn't only the intensity that brought Madrid their victory, but Barca's poor defensive structure which left them susceptible to the counter attack. Yes, the ref wasn't great, but Barca did not play with intensity or a dynamic movement to overtake the Madrid defence. Too many times, Barca held onto the ball allowing for Madrid's defense to set itself up. Then there is Busquets. Again, he was too slow and made bad fouls resulting in a Madrid goal. Xavi was also slow to make substitutes after the first half in which Barca were losing 2-0. Xavi's stubbornness has seen Barca face difficult repercussions and it will only get harder towards the end of the month. Villareal is next on Thursday followed by Athletic Bilbao and Bayern Munich. Subscribe to our channel for coverage of everything FC Barcelona - Thank you for your support!

The Barca Breakdown reviewed FC Barcelona's draw in the second leg against Inter Milan at the Camp Nou. Every fan felt this game was do or die and the Camp Nou fans' energy was exuberant! The Blaugrana energy was also pouring out on the pitch as players pushed their physical limits. Dembele and Lewandowki were able to score 3 goals. However it wasn't enough. Barca were their own worst enemy as blunders from Pique, Busquets, and Eric Garcia resulted in 3 goals for the Italian side. The result is another knife in the side of Barca fans. Barca find themselves 3rd in the Champions League group still 3 points behind Inter. Inter must lose both remaining games and Barca must win both... but Barca still will face Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou. Xavi and his men will be faced with another challenge this weekend in the highly anticipated El Clasico against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu. A win against Real would bolster Barca's hopes of taking the La Liga title. Subscribe to our channel for coverage of everything FC Barcelona - Thank you for your support!

The BarcaBreakdown discuss the 1-0 victory of FC Barcelona against Celta Vigo at the Camp Nou.

The Barca Breakdown discuss the loss in Italy against Inter Milan. In their 3rd Champions League game of the season, Barca find themselves 3rd in the group only able to score against Plzen.    There were many problems in the game, but most issues can be isolated to Xavi's decisions and lack of adaptation. While Alonso can be a great asset, his start in this game is on question as he's only played against Bayern Munich and has had no other minutes since acquisition. Balde being the front man as left back was completely snuffed. Another issue falls in Raphinha playing on the left wing when it's clear his potential and skill are best found on the right wing.   Despite this Barca had a few moments in the first half but were not equipped to break the low block defense of Inter. Where Xavi failed is his ability to adapt to the game and make player changes at appropriate times. The first substitute came in the 65'. Changes should have occurred after the first half at the earliest.   Lastly, it appears Barca are struggling to be one cohesive team. Barca relies on individual skill and brilliance, especially when faced against better teams. They also are better suited against teams that fight for dominance as it opens the pitch up as opposed to teams with low blocks.    Barca will face Celta Vigo this weekend and Inter again at the Camp Nou next week. Can Xavi adapt in a week?

The Barca Breakdown discussed the victory against Mallorca after returning from the international break. With all the injuries that racked up, Xavi had to change the line up. Alba started as the left back with Balde on the right back alongside Pique and Christensen. Appearing in the midfield was Kessie, Busquets, and Gavi with Dembele, Lewandowksi, and Fati on the attack. While this is not Xavi's first choice, considering the return from international break, injuries, and the need to rest players before the Champions League game against Inter Milan, it was a good decision.    The game was rather underwhelming. Barca was able to create one brilliant chance from Lewandowski in the 20'. This goal was all Barca needed to win the game and take 1st on the table, well at least until Real play Osasuna tomorrow. Other than the goal, Barca were flat on their chances and did not provide many offensive opportunities. The largest and most worrying aspect of the game was Barca's effort in the defense. Many times, Barca players seemed lethargic, uninterested, and distracted. These moments allowed Mallorca opportunities to score, however, they were not clinical and could not convert any chances.    It seems this game may be the game to brush off the cobwebs after the international break. Hopefully so, as Barca face Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday in which Barca play in Italy. 

The Barca Breakdown discussed the unfortunate news of players injured during the international break. It seems Araujo, Kounde, De Jong, and Bellerin have all picked up injuries. This could not have come at a worse time as Barca are about to have the one of the most important months of the year in October. Barca face Inter Milan two times in the champions league along with the second leg of Bayern. While Barca must beat Inter Milan so that there is no question to move out of the group stages, this puts Xavi in quite a predicament. Barca are in second place (2 points behind Madrid), just picked up 5 injuries, and have 6 la Liga games and 3 in CL in October, Xavi must decide what is more important, La Liga or the Champions League. Now it is possible that Barca make if through the CL even if they do not beat Inter, as Inter still can lose to Plzen or Barca could beat Bayern. However do to the uncertainty and the fact Barca most likely will not win the Champions League, it is more important to focus on La Liga. Additionally, after October, the World Cup will begin. International breaks will tire the players out and it's possible Barca will struggle after returning to Liga. It is important to get as many points as possible before the break. To make matters worse, Barca will play a Clasico match in the middle of the hectic schedule. This could very well he a critical moment in Barca's season which may set the stage for a La Liga trophy.

The Barca Breakdown discussed Matchday 6 against Elche. Elche has surely struggled this season as they've plummeted to 20th on the table. Barca's form this season has proved to be strong, scoring many goals, many of which coming from Lewandowski.    Unfortunately for Elche, they received a red card for a poor foul on Lewandowski in the 15th minute leaving them with 10 men. Barca certainly capitalized on this opportunity, in the 34' when Balde crossed the ball into the box and Lewy slid in and scored. It was all downhill for Elche from that point. Depay was also able to box out his defender in the box and received a pass from Balde. Depay quickly turned and smashed the ball into the back of the net. The first half ended and Barca completely dominated possession and control of the game.    The second half started with Kessie subbed off for Gavi. Soon after, Gavi pushed forward and crossed the ball back to Lewandowski. A one touch shot placed the ball in the left side of the net. Barca lead 3-0.    Big shout out to Frenkie De Jong, Balde, and Lewandowski for a great performance and complete domination of the game. Elche only managed 1 shot on goal with a 22% possession. While this game cannot provide any insight on Barca's progress it keeps them very competitive in La Liga. International break has now begun for Barca. The big question is can they keep their form when they return? When we return in October to play Mallorca, we have a big test in the Champions League against Inter Milan. This is the focus of Barca.

The Barca Breakdown discussed the tough Champions League loss in Munich. With so much history in the recent years between Bayern and Barca, this match was highly anticipated. This is especially true as Barca has seen some wonderful improvement this year under Xavi and after the summer transfer window. Unfortunately, the game did not pan out in Barca's favor and they lost 2-0 to Bayern. Barca's biggest enemy was themselves. This game could have been won with some clinical finishing from Lewandowski and Pedri. Additionally, the front line overall seems to lack that final oomph. Let's take a step back and look at Xavi's lineup. It was pretty obvious Xavi was going to start Dembele, Raphinha, Lewandowski, Pedri, Gavi, and Busquets. However, surprisingly, Xavi started Alonso as left back ahead of Balde or even Alba. Christensen also received a start over Garcia, presumably due to the injury Garcia has. Despite the one curveball, Barca came out with a ferocity unseen in a big Champions League game in the last few years. Barca defense was able to keep Bayern at bay for most of the first half by intercepting the ball and stripping players in the midfield. This accomplishment was led by Busquets and Gavi who performed wonderfully in the first 90. Unfortunately, Raphinha seemed a bit off the mark and Lewandowski/Pedri both missed great opportunities. The second half began with subs on the Bayern side, yet none from Xavi. This had an immediate effect, as Bayern were able to break Barca's defense. Barca failed to effectively mark attackers on a corner and fell asleep on the defense resulting in 2 goals. Xavi finally decided to make some subs, however a little too late. Barca found themselves trying to fight back and could not finish anything. Xavi received some criticism for making late subs and for Ferran Torres being the first player off the bench. Barca are tied in Group C with Inter Milan under Bayern Munich. While this game did not give the results fans had hoped for, it certainly leaves hope in Barca's CL endeavors for this year. Focus will be turned back to La Liga for the weekend game against Elche.

The Barca Breakdown discussed matchday 5 away in Cadiz. A team that is 20th on the table with ZERO points and ZERO goals on the charts. Seeing Barca have their first huge match of the season against Bayern on Tuesday, Xavi chose a lineup that featured less starters. Bellerin started as right back alongside Araujo, Pique, and Balde while the midfield started with Frenkie, giving Pedri a rest. Memphis and Torres were the attacking front with Raphinha.    As the lineup is very fresh, it was expected to have a slower start. Most goal scoring attempts came from the left side of the field, however, the finishing touches were sloppy and off the mark. Torres continued to sky the ball into the stands and Depay continued to shoot low and weak at the goalie, making for easy saves. A great output was seen from Frenkie and Gavi while Busquets held the midfield ground. However no goals were scored and Cadiz was able to play a heavy defensive line to crowd the box.    The second half started with no substitutes. But it was the starting XI that could score the game opener. Raphinha runs up the right side of the pitch getting the ball to Gavi who crosses the ball and the goalie blocks it. The rebound fell to Frenkie de Jong who put in the opening goal. After this moment, the game opens up as Cadiz must score to equalize or lose the game. Xavi then puts on Dembele, Fati, and Lewandowski. Not long after, Bellerin makes a run down the right pitch and gets the ball to Raphinha who crosses the ball into Frenkie and a Cadiz defender. The ball slips off and Lewandowki slides in for the goal! In the 80' the game was paused due to a person in the crowd falling ill. After about a 45 minute delay the game resumed. Fati was able to score in the box from an assist from Lewy and another goal from Dembele! The game ends 0-4 and Barca take another 3 points.    The Breakdown looks forward to the midweek Bayern game. Where Barca will face their first huge test of the season. 

The Barca Breakdown discussed the champions league season opener against Plzen with goals from Lewandowski and Dembele. While Barca fell in the Group of Death (again), Plzen were the least threatening. However, Barca could not afford to lose points in the group as Barca will play Bayern Munich and Inter Milano. The Bayern game is next Tuesday and it's safe to say Xavi wants his most trusted starting XI ready and rested. So in today's game, we saw an interesting line-up which included Alba and Roberto as fullbacks, Frenkie, Pedri, and Kessie in the midfield, and Fati with his first start alongside Dembele and Lewandowski. The game opened up a little rusty, with Barca losing the ball which led to some fast breaks for Plzen. After a few close calls from Plzen, Barca adjusted. Suddenly, Barca were on the ball consistently and maintained possession in the attacking half. Plzen became helpless as they scrambled to cover the gaps in their defense. The game exploded wide open after Dembele's corner came soaring to Kounde. Kounde headed the ball to Kessie and Kessie put the goal away. The next 3 goals came from a hattrick by none other than Robert Lewandowski! His assists came from Roberto, Dembele, and Ferran Torres. The last goal was scored by Torres with an assist from Demebele. Overall, Lewandsowki and Dembele were equally magnificent in the Champions League opener. The team was able to dominate possession and capitalize on Plzen's mistakes. The Barca squad also put in high effort offensively and defensively, constantly looking to score and get the ball back. While the Barca squad did a fantastic job, it must be said that Plzen did not perform very well. They clearly could not match the caliber of Barca and were not prepared. Despite this, Barca put out a completely dominant performance and should be applauded for their hard work! The Breakdown looks to the weekend as we play Cadiz and next week's Champions League game in Munich.

The Barca Breakdown discussed the away victory against Sevilla. Coming into the game Barca had just come off a 4-0 win against Villadolid and Sevilla only had 1 point in 4 games. Xavi also decided to use the same line up against Villadolid, but started Dembele on the left side and Raphinha on the right.    In the first 20 minutes, Barca struggled to move the ball forward as Sevilla dropped their defense into their defensive half. This was also difficult to deal with because our midfields were pushed too far forward. However, Gavi dropped back and was able to intercept and steal the ball from Sevilla. This was the catalyst to Barca's success. In the 21' minute, Gavi intercepted the ball and was able to find Dembele running down the left wing. Lewandowski receives the ball and chips it over the goalie, but a defender knocks it before it makes it past the goal line. Luckily, Raphinha had tracked on the right side and headers the ball in to make the opening goal.   After this moment, Sevilla wasn't able to hold Barca back. By the end of the first half Barca were up 0-2 with an assist from Kounde to Lewandowski for an astounding goal. The third goal came from a nice set piece from Dembele and Raphinha to Erica Garcia in the box. After this, the game was sealed and Sevilla could not come back.    Barca look forward to the midweek champions league game against Plzen, then Cadiz on the weekend, and lastly face off against Bayern Munich. 

The Barca Breakdown discussed the debate of who should start, Frenkie or Gavi and Barcelona's choices for wingers. Special guest Jaleel, aka ThePurist_ on Twitter, joins us to give his insight.   Gavi and Frenkie both have their strengths and weaknesses, but the differential in minutes seems to favor Gavi. We discuss why Xavi prefers Gavi and why haven't we seen more Frenkie. What type of match do each of these players prosper in and has Xavi figured this out?   Then there's the discussion of Dembele and Raphinha playing at the same time. It clear that both of them perform better on the right wing. If this is the case, should be be playing them both at the same time if they both ar best on the right? What about the left wing? Raphinha is not the only option on the left wing. Barca still have Fati and Ferran Torres. But both have recently come back from injury and have yet to reach their forms.    One thing is for sure, Barca have many options and can experiment in the coming season. 

The Barca Breakdown discussed the 4-0 victory against Valladolid. After much anticipation, Xavi started Kounde as the right back alongside Araujo, Garcia, and Balde. Again, Frenkie De Jong lost the starting position to Gavi. And the seemingly standard starting front line of Rahpinha, Dembele, and Lewandowski kicked off at the Camp Nou.    The possession was dominated by Barca in the whole 90'. This isn't particularly surprising as Valladolid had recently just returned from regulation and in previous seasons always fell to the bottom of the table. Barca attacked time and time again until Lewandowksi scored from a cross from Raphinha. This opened the game up as players were able to find the open pitch and make runs through the midfield. The wingers dropped to the middle which pulled defenders back allowing Gavi and Pedri to run up the pitch into the box. Many times Gavi was able to get the ball in the box, but held on too long or was covered too quickly. Then the play dies.   Moving forward though Dembele lit up the match with two assists. The first was a pass to Pedri at the middle of the penalty box and the second came to Lewy in which he back healed it into the net. Lastly, Lewy just misses a hat trick off the crossbar and Roberto smashes it back. Barca geet another 3 points. However, Valladolid performed very poorly, and this game cannot be completely representative of Barca in its peak performance. Barca just drew Bayern and Inter Milan in the Champions League and these games will be much more of a test of Barca's capabilities. 

The Barca Breakdown discussed victory in Anoeta against Real Sociedad. Barcelona take their first W of the season with a 1-4 scoreline. While the scoreline maybe flattering, Barca certainly struggled to break the tie until the 60'.    The game changed when Xavi subbed in Fati and Raphinha, which provided a much stronger threat. Quickly, La Real found themselves at the mercy of Fati of which provided an assit to Dembele and scored a goal for himself.    But who was responsible for this victory. Xavi utilized a 3-2-2-3, or some might call it a 3-4-3, formation. In this set up Araujo played as a right back but had to cover more space as he was Barca weren't playing with their traditional back 4. In this situation Araujo is already playing out of position. Ferran Torres played in the middle behind Lewandowski. The midfield was set up as a double pivot of Frenkie and Pedri. Lastly, Dembele had to play more defensive to cover the space Araujo would normally cover. None of this seemed to be working. It wasn't until the sun's came in, the game lit up.    So, yes, Xavi put these players in, but did they succeed because of him, or was it their individual skill/brilliance that lead Barca to Victory? 

The BarcaBreakdown discuss FC Barcelona's 1-4 victory against Real Sociedad at Anoeta. Xavi's surprising starting eleven clearly did not work, though Pedri, Balde and Lewandowski combined for a fantastic goal in the game's opening minute. However, Araujo as RB, Frenkie De Jong as pivot, and Ferran Torres working inside with Lewandowski left us open to a counter and early goal to tie the game 1-1 by Isak.   Overall, Xavi tried a new 3-4-3 (3-2-3-1?) lineup that did not work for the first 60 minutes of the game. The substitutions of Ansu Fati and Raphinha immediately changed the complexion of the game, as Fati assisted Dembele and Lewandowski before scoring his own goal to lead the 1-4 victory. Fati proved again why he is FC Barcelona's #10, and how absolutely magical he is when healthy and playing consistently. Unfortunately, Ferran Torres (who made only 1 appearance in preseason) looked very rusty and out of position as he was not dribbling in from the wings.   Christensen again had a great game in defense, and he is continuing to prove why Xavi is relying on him as a starting centerback. Eric Garcia put in a good shift, though he was unlucky Frenkie gave the ball away and put Garcia in a bad position for the Isak goal.   We hope to see Xavi continue to tinker with the team and find the best lineup to improve our defence and midfield. The signing of Kounde will be critical to make sure he can cover the RB or RWB spot this season.

The BarcaBreakdown discuss the issues FC Barcelona and Xavi are facing after a draw to Rayo Vallecano fell well short of expectations. With the additions of Lewandowski, Raphinha, Christensen (and now Kounde), Xavi needs time to develop Barca. However, some fans are worried about a continuous trend from Xavi's side, so the BarcaBreakdown tackle the issues he must conquer! First, we discuss how Ronald Araujo playing as a full back against Rayo did not go well, and our believe that Araujo should only be played there against very threatening wingers. Araujo lacks the ability, like we saw Xavi use with Dani Alves last season, to act as an inverted full back. This role is crucial as it allows the full back to act as a second pivot and help facilitate the ball and draw defenders away from the interiors and wingers. It will be interesting to see if Xavi continues to not believe in Sergino Dest and whether Barca sell him in the next few weeks. Kounde may be a better option at right back, though we will need to see Kounde perform there over the next few weeks to understand if he is a good fit. One of the revelations from Rayo was that Frenkie De Jong still plays a large role in this FC Barcelona side, even after all of the rumors of his departure have been circling this month.

The Barca Breakdown discuss the first day of the 2022/23 La Liga season against Rayo Vallecano. A team that beat us in both match days last season, was responsible for our third home loss, and was the final game of the Koeman era. Every Barca fan could only imagine the sweet payback Barca would get with a huge summer of signings. However, match day 1 did not deliver exactly as fans would have thought. Xavi's starting line-up did not feature Dest, who was not even called up, nor Frenkie De Jong. Instead Araujo slotted in the right back position with Christensen and Garcia as the center backs and Gavi received a start along side Pedri and Busi. There was no other choice but to start Raphinha, Dembele, and Lewandowski in the attacking front. As one would expect, Barca dominated possession of the ball and in the first 20 or so minutes created many opportunities. It must be said, the mid field was not an integral part of these first minutes as they were hardly involved in the build up. Instead, it seemed it was the job of the defense to get the balls to the wings and allow Dembele and Raphinha to control the ball forward. This tactic was soon after found out and Barca slowed their advances to the end of the first half. There were plenty of great opportunities though. Dembele had many services into the box to Lewandowski and Raphinha. Many of which were snuffed out by the goal or off the mark. Rounding into the second half it seemed that Barca just could not break the defense of Rayo in addition to their time wasting. The game certainly picked up when Frenkie subbed in. He was able to dribble the ball down the center, creating lethal opportunities. Despite all best efforts, FC Barcelona could not find the back of the net and leave their first game of the season with a 1 point. Hopefully the team can become more cohesive through the next few games to find the net. Xavi will need to make some adjustments including starting Frenkie and not keeping in Busquests for a full 90.

Jaleel/ThePurist's Medium Article: https://medium.com/@Jaleel/decoding-barcelonas-centre-backs-7914e994cea1 ThePurist Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThePurist_  The BarcaBreakdown have special guest Jaleel aka the Purist, as he's known by his Twitter handle, to discuss is most recent article "Decoding Barcelona's Centre Backs". We discussed his preferred gala backline as FC Barcelona have more defensive options with the signing of Christensen and Kounde. The other players to choose from are Eric Garcia, Jordi Alba, Ronald Araujo, Sergino Dest, Sergi Roberto, Balde, and Gerard Pique. Jaleel explains why he chose each of the 4 players based on what Xavi needs and each players strengths and weaknesses. The Breakdown picked Jaleel's brain about the downstream affects of some of the choices and the expectations for the team coming into the 2022/23 season. It is clear Barca have a a high potential next season, however, with the signing of many new players and still having a young squad, Barca will still face some adversity. Nonetheless, Jaleel provided some great insight and discussion about the current state of Barca's backline and the season to come. It is exciting to consider all of Barca's options and hopefully they will come out of the preseason with a hunger to take some titles under the direction of Xavi.

The BarcaBreakdown discuss the final preseason game vs. New York Red Bulls, as goals from Ousmane Dembele and Memphis Depay led to a 2-0 victory for Barca. Xavi now leads the squad to the Joan Gamper game before the La Liga season begins. With Gavi, Busquets, and Frenkie de Jong starting in midfield along with Raphinha-Lewandowski-Dembele up front, a clearer picture of Xavi's preferred 11 comes into mind. Up front, with Ansu Fati recovering and Ferran Torres still on the sideline, the trio of Raphinha-Lewandowski-Dembele seems like the clear favorite. The two energetic wingers provide incredible speed and driblling, while Lewandowski looks primed to pour in goals (though he hasn't yet this preseason). In the midfield, Pedri and Busquets are clear starters for the game against Rayo. Frenkie De Jong and Gavi are battling for the 3rd starting spot, though the BarcaBreakdown believes Frenkie is better suited to play in midfield right now. In defense, Xavi has a tougher decision as he still hasn't worked with Christensen or Jules Kounde enough. We expect to see Araujo start alongside either Eric Garcia or Pique. Jordi Alba is guaranteed to start at left back, although it was comforting to see Balde play well against Red BUlls. It will be seen if Sergino Dest, the only true right back, will start, or if Araujo/Kounde will begin to take time at the RB position.