Barcelona now has the poorest defensive record in Europe for the 2024–2025 season among the top five leagues, following their most recent disappointing La Liga performance
Barcelona Manager Xavi has previously stated he will step down as manager at the end of the current campaign since the Catalan giants are still being inconsistent and aren’t able to keep up with rivals Real Madrid and surprise package Girona.
The initial decision was made in the wake of three days later’s 5-3 league home loss to Villarreal and a 4-2 Copa del Rey loss to Athletic Bilbao.
Since then, Blaugrana have bounced back with a three-game winning streak, which is their longest unbeaten run since a four-game winning streak that came to an end on December 10.
Still, Barcelona’s display against Granada on Sunday has left them at the top of an unfavorable table, despite two better defensive displays against Osasuna and Alaves, respectively.
After securing a 3-3 draw with a weak La Liga team, Barcelona has now given up 23 goals in 11 games across all competitions in 2023–24.
That puts them ahead of Frosinone, an Italian team that has conceded 22 goals in seven games, and more than any other team that plays in the top five divisions in European football.
While Barcelona does not rank lowest in terms of goals conceded per game, Xavi should nevertheless find some comfort in the fact that his club has now conceded three or more goals in four different games since the year’s beginning.
The other shutout was in the Supercopa de Espana semifinals. Both of the clean sheets that have been recorded have come against Osasuna.
Barcelona has given up 33 goals in 15 games dating back to December 10 and currently has the joint 12th worst defensive record in La Liga.
Xavi moved Andreas Christensen to a defensive-midfield position and teamed Inigo Martinez with youthful Pau Cubarsi in the middle of the back four against Granada on Sunday.
The division’s second-bottom team had a 3-2 lead with 24 minutes remaining, but Lamine Yamal levelled with 10 minutes remaining, indicating that the swap had no effect.
Barcelona will now play two away games in quick succession. In the first leg of their Champions League last-16 match, they will travel to play Napoli after playing Celta Vigo in domestic competition.