Barcelona could face trouble breaking down Borussia Dortmund due to the absence of star playmaker | OneFootball

Barcelona’s serene run of form this year came to a halt when the club were held to a 1-1 draw by Real Betis.

It was not the best of results for the Catalans, who wasted the opportunity to capitalise on Real Madrid’s shock defeat to Valencia on the same day.

Nevertheless, Barcelona will now focus on Wednesday, when they take on last season’s Champions League runner-up Borussia Dortmund, in the first leg of the quarterfinal.

Question marks for Barça against Betis

Barça’s draw against Betis exposed a recurring problem — struggling to unlock deep defenses, especially when the team relies heavily on individual brilliance, reports Diario SPORT.

Pedri and Lamine Yamal were at the heart of most attacking moves, but the former showed signs of fatigue while the latter couldn’t quite find his spark.

Pedri had a difficult time against Real Betis (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)

When teams like Betis sit back, Barça often lack a Plan B. Frenkie de Jong and Gavi try to step in, but neither offers the same sharpness in tight areas as Dani Olmo — a player the team sorely missed.

Will Barcelona miss Olmo against Dortmund?

Olmo’s absence due to a right adductor injury will be a major blow. The Spanish playmaker, who has eight goals and five assists in limited minutes this season, thrives in compact spaces and could have been key against a well-organised Dortmund.

The German side usually prefer attacking football, but if they choose to sit deep, Barcelona may again struggle to break the lines without Olmo’s creativity.

While Fermin and Gavi have tried to fill in, their styles differ. Olmo brings that blend of vision and finishing that few others in the squad can replicate.

Therefore, coach Hansi Flick must soon come up with a strategy to break down the Dortmund defence, knowing fully well that Olmo is sure to miss the first-leg tie at Montjuic.