The jaw-dropping stat that puts Barcelona miles ahead of Europe’s top teams | OneFootball

Barcelona’s defensive strategy under Hansi Flick has been bold yet highly effective this season.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the team has successfully caught opponents offside a staggering 201 times across 36 official matches.

This is an extraordinary number, especially when compared to Tottenham, the second-best team in this aspect, who have managed just 101 offsides in 39 games—100 fewer than Barcelona.

A look at the numbers

So far this season, Barça have played 23 La Liga matches, eight in the Champions League, three in the Copa del Rey, and two in the Spanish Super Cup. Remarkably, only once in these 36 matches did an opponent manage to avoid being caught offside.

This happened during their La Liga clash against Real Betis on matchday 16, where Betis equalised in stoppage time.

In that match, Betis managed to bypass Barcelona’s offside trap entirely, something no other opponent has achieved this season.

A high-risk manoeuvre

Barcelona’s high defensive line is a calculated risk, as it requires impeccable timing and coordination. While it has worked in their favour on most occasions, it has also shown its vulnerabilities.

A clear example was during their recent match in Seville. Barcelona had just taken the lead through Robert Lewandowski when Saul Niguez broke through their defensive setup.

The midfielder delivered a precise pass to Eduardo Vargas, who finished the move to equalise. Ronald Araujo was slightly behind, playing Vargas onside, which led to the goal being counted.

However, Barcelona adjusted their defensive discipline in the second half, catching Dodi Lukebakio offside.

Despite occasional setbacks, Barcelona remain committed to their offside trap. The tactic has been a key part of their defensive approach, and there is no indication that they will abandon it.