Barcelona's Crackling Puzzle: Fragile Defense and Finishing Woes Ahead of the Clasico

A win that masks deeper cracks

Barcelona clawed a hard-fought victory over Girona in a Saturday La Liga clash, collecting three precious points that keep them in the title race behind Real Madrid. Yet the performance on the pitch raised questions about the balance in Hans Flick's system and whether Barcelona has found the balance they seek.

The Catalans looked off their best and struggled to impose their usual tempo or to dominate the play, but they found a late winner in a moment of clarity that often distinguishes champions from the rest: the ability to finish when it matters most.

Defensive fragility and controversial decisions

The big issue remains the defense. A high line without sufficient cover invites danger, and Girona managed to threaten multiple times, making three clear chances that should have been warning signs. This isn't just bad luck — it's a structural concern with the way the team presses and defends at depth.

Adding to the debate, the decision to start Lamine Yamal and then substitute him early drew plenty of questions. The teenager's pace can tilt the balance, and taking him off while the match was still open seems an opportunity squandered. It may be wiser to hold that card until the late flurries when the opponent tires.

Finishing drought, Clasico looming

Offensively, Barcelona continue to miss a killer in the final third. The absences of Raphinha and Lewandowski left a gap in the frontline, and the team failed to convert a string of half-chances and crosses into goals.

Rashford and Fernandez failed to disrupt Girona's defense, and as the Clasico nears, Flick will need to craft smarter ways to convert opportunities and to tighten the fragile backline that invites risk in every counterattack.

Soul-searching is ongoing, and the clock is ticking for a squad that could yet deliver a title if it can stabilise both its defense and its finishing. The Clasico won't wait for them to figure it out.

Punchline 1: If Barça's defense were a bank, they would issue too many loans and never collect a single one.

Punchline 2: In football as in life, finishing is everything — right now Barça seems to have the talent, just not the ending.