Barca's Corner Conundrum: Set-Piece Shambles Expose European Frailties
Barcelona's defensive woes from corners were laid bare against Slavia Prague, despite Fermín's heroics and Olmo's screamer salvaging a chaotic Champions League night.
Barcelona’s European campaign continues to expose the defensive frailties that could cost them dear when the business end of the season comes calling.
Corner Calamities
Let’s not beat around the bush - you simply cannot concede twice from corners at Champions League level and expect to get away with it. The Catalan giants were given a proper lesson in Prague, where Slavia might be technically inferior but certainly knew how to exploit Barca’s Achilles heel.
The first goal was straight from the training ground playbook:
- Near-post flick-on
- Far-post finish from Kusej
- Frenkie de Jong caught napping
For the second, Lewandowski somehow managed to shoulder the ball into his own net from another corner. Talk about having a mare! The Polish striker later made amends with a goal at the right end, but the damage to Barca’s defensive reputation was already done.
Flick’s men have now conceded in every Champions League match this season. Not exactly the defensive solidity you’d expect from a team with serious European ambitions.
Fermín: Barcelona’s European Goal Machine
If there’s one bright spark in this Barcelona side right now, it’s young Fermín López. The lad’s been absolutely mustard in Europe, bagging another brace in Prague to become - wait for it - Barcelona’s top Champions League goalscorer this season.
Not Yamal, not Lewandowski, not Raphinha, not even Rashford. It’s Fermín who’s been doing the business on the continent. The boy wonder turned the game on its head with two well-taken goals, showing composure beyond his years.
Concentration Lapses Proving Costly
There’s a worrying pattern emerging with this Barcelona side. Just as they did against Real Sociedad at the weekend, Barca conceded almost immediately after scoring. Fermín had barely finished celebrating his second goal when Slavia equalized.
These concentration lapses are becoming a bit of a dog and bone for Flick. Top teams simply don’t switch off like that after scoring.
Olmo’s Instant Impact
Dani Olmo had been on the pitch for all of two minutes when he produced a moment of pure magic. Coming on cold for the injured Pedri (another worry for Barcelona), Olmo didn’t even need a warm-up before unleashing an absolute thunderbolt into the top corner.
Talk about making an entrance! The Spanish international showed exactly why Barcelona brought him back to the club where he started his youth career.