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Barca lost 0-3 to Chelsea. |
Barcelona went into Stamford Bridge hoping to show their improvement under Hansi Flick. But when the final whistle blew, all that was left was a 3-0 defeat and a feeling that the team was not yet ready for the Champions League. Chelsea played like a team that knew what to do against a big opponent. Barca were the complete opposite.
From the very first minutes, Chelsea dominated the game with intense pressing, forcing Barcelona to retreat deep. The home team pushed up their formation, fought fiercely and blocked all of their opponents' options to develop the ball from the back.
Meanwhile, Barcelona started the game at a slow tempo, trying to control the ball but lacking the speed and determination to break Chelsea's pressing. The difference in motivation was obvious, and that soon led to two goals conceded in the first half.
Barcelona’s midfield was the biggest weakness in this match. Frenkie de Jong was unable to dictate the tempo without Pedri, while Fermin Lopez was caught up in constant opposition challenges and unable to dominate space. The two failed to create a connection between the lines, leaving Barcelona lacking the ability to transition, which is key when facing teams with pace like Chelsea. Barcelona’s inability to win the ball back after losing it made the match completely tilted in the home team’s favour.
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Barca disappointed in the Champions League. |
As the second half began, Barcelona's already slim chances of a comeback were completely snuffed out by Ronald Araujo's red card. The Uruguayan centre-back picked up two yellow cards for losing control, both of which could have been avoided had he been more alert.
A player who is considered the leader of the defense cannot afford to make such mistakes. Letting his team play with one less man against a high-spirited Chelsea is like handing over a weapon.
The collapse continued as the defence faltered and the attack completely lost touch. Jules Kounde had a sub-par game, with his movements slow and inaccurate. Alejandro Balde failed to make a difference down the left flank.
Raphinha was blocked and there was hardly any ball of quality for Lewandowski to turn around in the box. Chelsea controlled the tempo, exploited the space and scored the third goal as a result.
The most worrying thing was not the 0-3 loss, but the image of Barcelona completely giving up after the second goal. The fighting spirit that once made the Blaugrana famous was absent. There was no strong enough struggle to create the feeling that they still believed in the ability to turn the situation around. This is the detail that made many fans worry the most.
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Barca exposed many problems after losing the Champions League. |
Once again, Barcelona were exposed against the best teams in Europe. They could play well against weak or average opponents, but against high-tempo teams like Real Madrid, PSG or Chelsea, they were often forced to chase the ball. Their limitations in strength, ability to compete and intensity were all too obvious. This was not just a personnel issue, but also a tactical issue.
Hansi Flick cannot shirk his responsibility. He must raise the level of play, reset the discipline standards, and find a more suitable tactical structure when facing strong teams. Barcelona need more than possession; they need sharpness in pressing, intensity in tackling and speed in transition.
Stamford Bridge has exposed a truth: Barcelona can be spectacular against smaller teams, but are fragile against real challenges. And unless they improve quickly, the Champions League will always be beyond their reach.
Source: https://znews.vn/barcelona-lo-nguyen-hinh-o-stamford-bridge-post1605978.html
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