By Graham Ruthven
Barcelona’s defence prompted nearly as a lot dialogue as their assault final season. This was regardless of the Catalans’ ahead line being essentially the most potent in Spanish soccer. Hansi Flick’s workforce scored an unimaginable 102 objectives in 38 league video games final time period, but anybody who watched Barca absolutely had their eye drawn to what was occurring on the again.
Defensively, Barcelona walked a tightrope final season. The excessive line is a well-established function of recent soccer, however Flick took the idea to a brand new excessive, positioning Barca on the midway line no matter the place the opposition had possession. It turned a typical meme to screenshot Barcelona’s wild defensive positioning.
It was solely because of the robust partnership of Pau Cubarsí and Iñigo Martínez that Barca had been capable of make this work. They had been Flick’s first-choice centre again pairing. Cubarsí’s mobility coupled with Martínez’s pure studying of the sport and strong defensive fundamentals gave Barcelona the protection internet they required.
Now, although, Martínez is gone. The 34-year-old accomplished a shock transfer to Al-Nassr final weekend, becoming a member of the Saudi Professional League outfit as a free agent on a one-year contract. Martínez reportedly had a gentleman’s settlement with Barcelona that allowed him to depart if a proposal from Saudi Arabia got here on this summer season, which it did.
In what has been a lowkey summer season by Barcelona’s current requirements, the Catalan membership now has an issue to unravel. Who will exchange Martínez within the backline with the beginning of the 2025/26 LaLiga season just some days away? Will Barca’s dangerous defensive construction maintain collectively now that the 34-year-old has departed?
This may very well be Ronald Araújo’s likelihood to make up for misplaced time. Not so way back the Uruguayan was seen as Barcelona’s subsequent nice centre again – their new Gerard Piqué or Carles Puyol. Nonetheless, a sequence of accidents knocked Araújo from his stride. He turned more and more error-prone as Xavi Hernández shifted him from centre again to proper again.
Araújo’s inventory dropped so low that it was even speculated that he may very well be offered. Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United had been all linked at one time or one other, however the Uruguayan stayed at Barcelona to combat for his place. With Martínez now out of the image, this can be a combat he would possibly find yourself successful.
Flick favoured Araújo and Cubarsí as his beginning centre backs in Sunday’s 5-0 demolition of Como within the conventional Joan Gamper Trophy. Whereas Como provided so little attacking menace it was troublesome to make a strong judgement on the Barcelona defence, there was sufficient to counsel Araújo and Cubarsí might praise one another in the identical approach Cubarsí and Martínez did.
Nonetheless, Araújo is right-footed. So too is Cubarsí which implies one of many two should play on the ‘mistaken facet.’ Martínez, against this, was left-footed which gave Barca pure stability on the again, out and in of possession – Martínez was one of the crucial prolific line-breaking passers in LaLiga final season.
Martínez was additionally Barcelona’s greatest lengthy passer final season, averaging 4.9 lengthy balls per 90 minutes in 28 LaLiga appearances. This allowed the Catalans to combine issues up. Typically they might construct progressively out of the again and into the midfield the place Pedri would progress play into the ultimate third.
Different instances Martínez would launch it ahead to get the likes of Raphinha and Lamine Yamal working at objective. It was this selection that made Barcelona so troublesome to play towards. If opponents stood off, Barca would play by means of them. In the event that they pressed excessive, the Catalans would flip them rapidly. Martinez was key to this.
The monetary upside of Martínez’s departure is that Barcelona have eliminated €14 from their wage invoice which is able to assist them register new signings Joan García and Marcus Rashford for the beginning of the season. The Catalan membership remains to be counting the price of years of gross mismanagement with the redevelopment of the Camp Nou additionally inflicting monetary pressure.
Barcelona presently must stability what’s greatest for the workforce on the pitch with what is smart for the membership off it and Martínez’s exit is the most recent signal of this. Flick’s life can be more durable with out the 34-year-old nonetheless round, however that is the job the German coach signed up for when he turned Barca supervisor final yr.
Final season was a momentous one for Barcelona as they surged to the Spanish title taking part in a model of thrilling, attack-minded soccer. This season, followers will anticipate additional progress in direction of a extra rounded method that may additionally ship success within the Champions League. Doing that with out Martínez, nevertheless, can be a problem.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
You possibly can observe all Barcelona video games on FotMob within the 2025/26 season – with in-depth stat protection, together with xG, shot maps, and participant scores. Obtain the free app right here.