The FC Barcelona is in check in the UEFA Champions League. The goalless draw against Benfica at the Camp Nou has left them in a very difficult situation as a victory for the Portuguese team on the last day of the group stage against Dynamo Kiev, will force them to defeat Bayern Munich in Germany to go round. A very complicated challenge for a team that is still under construction.
The arrival of Xavi Hernandez It has radically changed the team. Barcelona plays much better and complies with the parameters followed by the “club’s philosophy” in recent years. They move the ball better, generate many advantages, press with great intensity and lock up their rivals in their own field. But, beyond the collective change, the main problem of the new coaching staff is the lack of offensive quality that the first team squad has.
A team without a goal
Barcelona was superior to its two rivals in the majority of the game (Espanyol and Benfica), but it took him a lot to get to the goal. He could only score one and from the penalty spot. Despite generating multiple dangerous opportunities (30 shots and 9 shots on goal), he could not score more than hitting a ball in the goal.
And it is that, taking out Ansu Fati, the forwards of the Barcelona team are not decisive footballers in the last section of the field with their shots. They have talent and can fit into the idea of the game, but they lack that touch of spice necessary to be able to make a difference or that can be decisive in the most complicated matches. They only have 2 goals in 5 matches played in the current UEFA Champions League.
Xavi has an important challenge ahead of him because he will have to seek to strengthen his pieces so that they can be more decisive in the face of the rival goal. One more sample that you can play well at the collective level, but without differential talent near the area it is impossible to transcend at the international level.
Barcelona does not have a goal and that is a rather difficult problem to solve.
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