Comparing Barcelona’s Back-Four: First Champions League Game Under Xavi vs. Current Lineup

Barcelona’s journey under Xavi as head coach has been marked by significant changes and improvements, especially in their defensive setup. When Xavi took over in 2021, the team struggled in the Champions League and failed to progress beyond the group stage.

In his first Champions League game as coach, which was against Benfica, Xavi deployed a back three consisting of Clement Lenglet, Ronald Araujo, and Gerard Pique, with Jordi Alba playing as a left-wingback. The bench featured defensive options such as Sergino Dest, Eric Garcia, Oscar Mingueza, Samuel Umtiti, and Alejandro Balde.

This defensive setup proved to be insufficient for Champions League success at the time, and Barcelona faced challenges both in terms of organization and individual performances in defense.

As Barcelona prepares for their first Champions League game of the current season, Xavi has a more promising array of defensive options. The available defenders include Balde, Alonso, Inigo Martinez, Andreas Christensen, Araujo, Jules Kounde, Sergi Roberto, and Joao Cancelo. While the exact starting lineup may vary, this group represents Xavi’s best back-four choices at the moment.

The question now is whether Barcelona has improved enough defensively to navigate their way through the group stage and potentially make a deeper run in the Champions League. The odds will depend on various factors, including the team’s ability to maintain defensive solidity, adapt to Xavi’s tactics, and the performances of individual players. If the new-look defense can establish itself and complement Barcelona’s attacking prowess, their chances of progressing in the tournament will certainly improve.