Yes there were two outrageous VAR decisions that cost Barca the points in this game. But there’ll be plenty of analysis of that elsewhere. I wanted to put the emphasis on the performance, because it’s the only place improvement is going to come from.

Also, Balde definitely needs to start being the number 1 choice for left back. He’s the best we have… by a mile.

I personally believe Xavi's tactics wasn't bad. He just used to wrong players. Especially Alonso and Raphinha. And finally a better interior than Gavi would have helped. Maybe why he wanted Bernado badly.

Great idea, players understanding each other is a must and I believe Xavi built that through the games they play in training but of course having a massive amount of injuries stifles the ability to create these

Wow!! Dude you are absolutely right! I love when people talk about Barcelona tactically instead of other factors like VAR or Robbery. We really need to get back to the basis. That's where progress starts but Patience is key! I don't know what's going to happen in the next week's match but we need to trust the process.

you have a great eye for spotting tactical mishaps. Really enjoy your analysis

Well done analysis and it speaks to what I saw in the game. Specific the black hole in the left side attack. Excellent video mate

I was checking your YT like 10 times alreaddy - FINALLY its here! I have been waiting for this video, thank you!

Such an awesome review, keep up the good work!!🤩🙌🙌

It was just hard to watch this game, and just before the halftime was devastating. The lineup was really underwhelming, I wish we saw Kessie come on much earlier, and Balde and Ansu Fati start, because Raphinha was completely sacrificed. Xavi takes some blame, but this game was daylight robbery. It's just so sad as a Barca fan.

Another top notch video mate! Keep it up 👏🏻

Great video, same issues as in the first game of the season Vs Rayo Vallecano. That lack of fluidity + rigidity was better when we played Kounde on the right. Also Busquets is too sluggish nowadays, best touches/combinations this season in the midfield were in the second half vs Real Sociedad when Frenkie, Gavi and Pedri showed how fluid and loose they can be, check it out If Xavi wants to play with Busquets in big games he should be starting with a 3-4-3. You are absolutely right about buidling mechanisms and relationships between the players, I think we were in a great momentum before the Fifa break, which cut short training and brought back many important players injured.

Pedri was like our pivot instead of Busquest this game. He was that deep imo, playing with 4 midfielders would have helped moving pedri in raphinhas role. Or play raphinha on the right wing, and dembele on the left. Even if FDJ was injured, Kessie can also play as a 2nd pivot alongside Busi. Another thing, Balde needed to start imo.

Nice to see that your mic quality has finally improved. Your analysis is great as always, keep it up.

spot on once again. I said some days ago that something was missing from our game play that was evident last season. I can't remember the last time I saw a combination play this season, Real Madrid even does this more than we do. everything has just gotten so rigid. I also want to add that we need to start taking advantage of set pieces. It works like a charm against difficult teams.

Great analysis man and also you improved your audio quality .👏👏👏👏

One of the Best video on tactics! really insightful!

Great analysis! Been waiting for this video.

This is great analysis, you touched upon the "relationship" issue that I so far haven't heard any other channel talk about. They have near to zero chemistry now...sigh~

wow. you are really good, i hope xavi sees what you see when analysing matches cause am not ready for another europa

Your review and analysis are on spot we lacking movements without the ball we are so predictable

Relationship! Yes! You hit it on the nose with this interpretation. There was 0 intellectual prowess from any given player because they simply had no one they could trust. Especially on that left side. So we kept giving it to the 1 player we thought would give us hope, Dembele.

Damn I can't agree more on your point on relationships in the field. While i was watching the game i also suspected something was missing, this was the exact thing that was missing, Relationships between the players.

Bro you're the only KZfaqr I have my bell on for!

Thanks for your explaination….i was egarly waiting for this.

Raphinha should be starting on the right, and dembele on the left. Dembele can be sacrificed on the left because he is better in that position than Raphinha is. Xavi lost this game due to his lineup and bad tactics. This again was an easy game for Barca to win if Xavi didn't mess around with the formula.

Another well executed video. This is just the beginning of the project. Let’s give the manager and the players the time and patience they deserve. 🙏🏾

Your ball knowledge is crazy good bro

Exactly ! You need combination works to break up such deep defenses

I actually think Gavi lacks the creative edge and he’s not a ‘glue’ kind of player either. Great out of possession but doesn’t create enough chances which puts too much pressure on pedri to both create and glue the team together. Xavi made the team tick whilst iniesta had the wizardry. And on any day both of them had the freedom to play a deadly final pass. Pedri, sadly, ends up having to play both roles.

I've been waiting for your video

Phenomenal analysis.

Great analysis refreshing

This completely explains my frustrations with the game yesterday, we were robbed yes, however if we had played better and less predictable we wouldn't have to rely on VAR.

This guy needs to start a podcast

Excellent video. This loss in on Xavi, firstly he needs to do better, and then our players need to do better. I kinda don't believe we make it to UCL knock-outs this year, but yeah, there is always a chance, I guess.

Excellent analysis 👏

Totally agree with all points, particularly Dembele unproductive play, and stagnant Raphinia. This weekend all has to be improved.

I said it in the first half that Ferran Torres should’ve been in the game once I saw Raphinha playing in the half space. Torres may not be in the best form but he still has a better understanding of playing in that role. Xavi needs to give him more minutes or he’ll never find his form. His finishing needs to be better but at the end of the day, his movement off the ball is better than either of the first choice wingers so far this season. But I guess these are the problems that arise when you have a log jam of players at the same position. Maybe Xavi should try Raphinha on the right, Dembele on the left and Torres central in place of Gavi. I want Gavi to play tho. The idea that these games are too big for him is too near-sighted in my opinion as he needs to gain experience in games like this. It’s the only way he’ll get better.

absolutely spot on bro

love your videos. 👍👍

When space is tight players like ansu and ferran excellence once I saw the line up I knew it would be tough, against a low block and 5 at the background fati or ferran must start. Balde must start every game unless he is tired or needs to be rested. Dembele needs to be coached into playing in tight games to have patience and not force attacks

Hi I am not a football expert neither ever played professional football but from what i understand his philosophy is high risk and high reward. He wants to play in the opponents half as much as possible. That's why Barcelona does not drop into an organized defensuve structure. This exposes their shape as players are caught out of place. Sometimes you got to pick ur moments and slow everything down. Rhythym, tempo, pausa everything is nevessary but you got tp have the right players with right attitude and mentality. Only Pedri falls into that category in my opinion and we see that in every game if we had someone like him in most positions i am sure we would have looked a lot different.

i think xavi was inspired by mallorca putting left footed lee on the left interior for raphinha to take more shots and create more direct chances. and to use dembele on the right

Was a perfect game to bring Ferran on, there was so much space between the centre backs that dembele just couldn’t exploit

Been waiting

Don't you think that playing Raphinha on the left half space is a mistake? With Dembélé and Roberto probably out of form on the right side due to game cumulation and recent recovery for the latter?

Xavi showed his inexperience, balde shoudlve started over alonso easily, putting Raphinha at right wing will show his full potential and Dembele on left will give him more goalscoring opportunities like when he hit the post. Unpopular or not but I think frenkie would do more than Gavi in next game Vs inter, his ball carrying speed and technical ability is crucial to breaking down that inter backline. Hopefully kounde can return next week instead of useless Roberto who offers nothing in defense and attack. Barca need to go all out from the first second making it hard from inter and constantly applying pressure. General Tickets are sold out for next weeks game we need camp nou to be absolutely louddd

Rhythm fluidity dynamism is literally what Tiki taka is. I felt like I was watch rocks play yesterday🥵

Bro be careful with the clips from games, might get flagged. But great video!!!

Do you think this lack of relationships this year is because of the new players . And does it need time to blossom again.

Yes, Xavi should have probably played Balde instead of Alonso and Fati instead of Raphina as the inverted winger/LAM because the left flank looked dead and barren anytime the ball went there. The right didn't do much better given how poor Dembele performed and the lack of movement from Roberto. The most glaring problem to me was that no one was trying to punch a hole in Inter's 5-man backline with decent runs, and no one looked confident enough to try taking a few long shots that would demand Inter's backline to move forward to cover the half spaces, leaving space to exploit. I don't know if this is the tiredness from the international break that has made the players look so sluggish and static, even though they almost outplayed Bayern at their home just weeks ago. Whatever it is, let's hope We bounce back soon

Similar problems to Spain. Enrique's first choice midfield is Busquets + Pedri + Gavi, with Ferran Torres as the RW or LW and Alba as the LB. Not to mention the squad has no world class striker or CF, Spain lacks killer pass and they often struggle to pose real threat to defensive teams.

your best piece

I also wish gavi would go into that half pace we create with dembele being so wide. If gavi can make a run drag the defender and dembele can cut Inside or feed the overlap or give it to gavi for a low cross to lewa. Xavi has the tactics it will just take time guys.

yea it seems like we aren’t playing the style we did last season

I love your videos❤

Keep it up 👏

I can't understand why Xavi would start Alonso over Alba or Balde. Alonso doesn't even start in la Liga, Balde does. And we saw that when Balde got subbed in, (maybe Xavi instructed him to) he was much more of a threat in Inter's 3rd. I get Alonso has more experience in the champions league but that experience was with Chelsea. He needs to get more practice in with Barca via training or la Liga games.

Agree with the analysis about the weak left flank in the game. Put a good player in an unfamiliar position or unfamiliar function, he's going to look like a crap player.

I was furious when I saw empty half spaces with no one attacking it..

Time and patience 💯

This felt like one of those games where Ter woud save goals and Messi would score and the entire team would just be passengers.

Roberto and Alonso were not dynamic enough....I cant see what Roberto adds to the team and it was obvious after half time xavi told him to be more adventurous with his forward passing. For a team defending deep we wasted 2 players who dont know how to attack.

What will be a good move is to put raphinha in the mid field to play with Pedri and busquets

idk how you can blame Sergi for not providing support when he was acting as a CB/inverted RB. the two times he tried over/underlapping Dembélé, ousmane failed the passes and the team was exploited on the counter. Gavi didn't provided any support whatsoever, horrendous positioning, he had the luxury of moving to provide a passing option yet he stayed by Lewa's side the entire time. all sergi did was pass to Dembélé because that was all he COULD do with what he was presented. it's not that he forgot how to overlap. he was clearly instructed to stay back and there was no way he would leave his flank wide open. Busquets would be the only person left to defend and he gets enough flak as it is.

good one

xavi is too stubborn and needs to learn not to experiment in big games. raphinha on the left can never work out and he needed to give balde the go ahead in this game. still believe in him but he's making the job too difficult for himself

people will forget our actual most missed player that works for out system the best, memphis depay, he is strong, a finisher winger and can hold up the ball and is strong enough to not be bullied, lewandowski needs someone else he can play off of to get the best out of him just like he did with muller, alba is our best full back for attack but he cant defend at all, balde is the best rounded and dangerous fullback we have he needs to play, he creates a very big threat on the dribble, pedri needs to play attacking mid and stop dropping so deep this is why i kept suggesting the 4231 with frenkie and DM or a player that can alternate in defending and attacking with frenkie, the backline imo always needs an ariel centerback playing eithe arujo or pique , our defence cant be dominated by big center forwards, this is all our team needs

Great!

Look at balde he was helping ansu fati down the left flank that why we need de jong games like this so pedri won't stay deep dejong can move the ball more we all know that we can't keep crossing we need atleast some shot outside the box atleast

Do you guys think that Barca have a chance to pass the group or do you think we are not ready for this group :(

Another problem, the lack of quality players, no strong creative Fullbacks...

And Dembele was 2v1 so we needed overlapping runs but it never happened

A bit of both? I mean, Barca usually struggle against Italian teams and against Bayern, plus Barca has cruical midfielders and defenders out with injury. BUT, on the other side, Barca were tame and lacked the motivation to score imo. So a bit of both sides really.

You know what I think will happen now? Barca will win at home against Inter. Then the game with bayern will end in a 1-1 draw. At that point we will need bayern to beat Inter in order to qualify for the last 16. So most barca fans will probably be watching Inter vs Bayern on matchday 6, instead of barca vs Victoria

I think the question Purist meant to ask is: Is Xavi rotating players way too much?

I think what has the fans so riled up is the possibility of not advancing to the knockouts again in the UCL. Otherwise people are aware this project is going to take time.

We play a 352 actually. It may have seemed like a 5 back in that game but thats because dimarco and darmian dropped back much quicker than usual and helped out a lot with breaking down your wingers plays (mainly dembele). Also everyone saying there were outrageous var decisions is salty. If you one you wouldn't have said anything and we had a lot more big chances than you anyway. If we didn't deserve it I would have said but we definitely did.

Xavi need to try playing this one on one pass in the middle and not to rely on dembele to continue crossing in a hope lewandowski shoot to score and when they get a chance to shoot they should do it

What's the need of midfielders if they can't make quality pass to the striker to score a goal. It's been a long time since any of our midfielders gave a quality pass that led to a goal. The passes for the goals always comes from the wingers. Pedri, Gavi and Busi is not working at all. And teams have now mastered their boring style of play that they can just hide them in games making them lost in the wind😎

The thing is these kind of patterns in a Guardiola team for example are not just the results of relationships but based on a structured system which tells the players where to move and when . This is down to coaching and I don't think Xavi does teach these organisational patterns in the same way or at all . The team always looked unorganized structurally even last season while with Guardiola teams you could see this kind of movement organisation almost immediately after he took over a team . My suspicion is that Xavi was too good of a player and expects the players to find the patterns themselves without strictly coaching it . If that's true it will never work against the best organised teams in the world

Can we still pull levers if we drop back to Europa again? That’s all I need to know.

Dembele doesn't play with the interior enough

The over dependence on Dembele is too much and also our style of play is becoming predictable coz now everyone knows that all balls go to him

The team hasn't built enough chemistry yet

Xavi should stop taking Balde out of game, He should be playing all games and growing, When we need to maintain a lead then experience comes in and we can call on Alonso and Alba. Right now we need that youthfulness and pace and not some slow players without any form of contribution to games

Dembele cannot shoot, he doesn'thave the eye for the goal.. and using Raphinha on the left means he cannot take effective shots.. so Lewandowski is the only goal scorer in the team and we lose if he doesn't score

we need new players with different mindsets kesse was a start and more verticality and speed of offense

Said that from the get go. I returned to watchnig barca after nearly 8 years. They play to slow and do not move enough. Lack of fluidity, lack of mobility. From Barca! Thats something...

For me. I have nothing against Raphinha. I just never thought he would be signed as a definite starter. Unless of cox dembele left but mainly to compete wıth dembele. Also maybe Xavi is under somewhat pressure to play Raphinha resultant to the loads of money ınvested on sıgnıng hım. Whıch would not have been the case if leeds had been relegated. Ferran torres is my first choıce left winger. Hıs dynamısm and movement off the ball ıs arguably second to no one ın the squad. Heck I myt play Jodi Alba at right back ahead of balde. Because Jodi alba’s main flaw for me is defending plus he combines well with ferran and pedri. Or maybe play Raphinha as a left wing back.

I love you

So the INTERNATIONAL CURSE has been a thing now at barca for atleast the last 3 seasons. Each time we have a good run of form, the Int'l Break happens and we go to shit or have tons of injuries. Time and time again, what is wrong with Barca?

Maybe the question is: Is barcelona any good? Sure again Cadiz or whatever, easy... against Bayern?? A little bit more difficult

Xavi is not tactical and the worst part of it is that he don't even see a problem and identify it as even we the fans do

Top content as always. This nonsense Xavi Tactics only works against weak defends. Also the nonsense obsession with bioth wingers hugging the touchline will cost us.

I think dynamism and rhythm are dictated by fluidity, which comes from personal trait of the players. Why Man city, Arsenal and Napoli have all these three characteristics (dynamism, rhythm and fluidity) and the answer is because they have players (midfielder) who can do that. Barca has back line players plus goalkeeper who can all (except Araju) can build from the back , no problem over there ( in terms of buildup from the back) fine, ball reaches midfield it dies there no offensive threat at all. I don’t blame Busquets he is DMF and he gets the ball out quickly , but both Pedri and especially Gavi the ball doesn’t move forward. Look how KDB, Bernardo Silva and Martin Odegaard move the ball with dinamism, rhythm and fluidity and they terrorize the opposing defense. Why Xavi couldn’t bring players like these above players. The whole world of football there are no the likes of KDB, B. Silva or Odegaard. Look Napoli bought a player by the name Khvicha Kvaratskhelia 21 years old for only 10million Euros. He can play left wing or attacking midfield. He will give you dynamism, rhythm and fluidity all. Where are Barcelona recruiters. Xavi could have brilliant idea but if he doesn’t bring players who have those characteristics and implement the idea is like not having an idea.

I can't believe Xavi actually made Raphinha out to be this important to the team. When Barca talked up Raphinha last season I thought they wanted him as the backup player on the right. Then they went ahead and shelled out 60M on him, the player who has never played a CL match. Playing him on the left against Inter in a crucial CL tie is a major error by the coach. The current order of players on the left should be Ferran - Fati - Depay. If Fati finds fitness and rhythm he should overtake Ferran later in the season since he has more goals in him although his linkup is inferior, and Barca are clearly low on players with the appetite to attack the far post and are too reliant on Lewa's solo ability for goals. Forget the price tag, use Raphinha as he should be: to protect Dembele from overplay and injuries.

How I wish Xavi can see this analysis 🥺

Inter parked the bus and Barca took no shots from range. without shots you don't have goals, period. Just watch the highlights between Bayern and Barca and you will find this is the main difference. It turns out, playing against high posession teams that play the high line, parking the bus is a great way to neutralize that and Xavi had no answer.