Barça don't attack well and defend poorly

Barça don't attack well and defend poorly

Ronald Araujo se quejó del penalti injusto que le pitaron ante Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronald Araujo se quejó del penalti injusto que le pitaron ante Cristiano Ronaldo | sport

Barcelona struggled to get into the game and when they did finally react it was too late. To compete with the elite, it is essential to be intense and to be focused at all times. This Barça struggle with that. They only got to work once Juventus were winning 0-2. Barça were able to make it to the final third easily enough but everything ended there. 

From wide positions, they didn't send in crosses because there's no presence in the box. And when Sergiño Dest did attempt to deliver the ball, no one was there. There weren't deep passes between the lines, either. Everything was to feet. And it's complicated to break down any rival playing like that. Juve were too comfortable: in the second half, Barça seemed to take a step forward, but the second penalty killed off any comeback hopes. 

Ronald Koeman's changes were telling because he brought on three players that have hardly featured this season: Junior Firpo, Samuel Umtiti and Riqui Puig. But Barça have lost some of the qualities they used to be able to rely on. For example, their ability to attack well. 

They're also having problems defending well. Maybe Barça should consider that in modern football it's possibly better not to fondle the ball so much and to run and press much more. The team, who lost top spot in their Champions League group with the defeat, may now draw a Bayern, a Liverpool, a Chelsea or a Manchester City in the next round. I hope I am wrong, but this could be a very long season. 

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