From Christensen to Cubarsí: How Barcelona Regained Defensive Stability

Defensive solidity served as the foundation for Barcelona’s LaLiga triumph last season. Its absence for months has been a key factor in the team’s current inconsistency. While Xavi attributed the team’s numbers to individual errors and a lack of intensity, there were also structural changes that disrupted the team’s functioning at the beginning of the season.

Notable changes included playing two offensive full-backs simultaneously (Balde and Cancelo), shifting Koundé to the center of defense, and the absence of Busquets, the positional midfielder who orchestrated the team. Xavi has made adjustments to restore defensive solidity, and recently, the results have been promising. Barcelona has conceded only two goals in the last five games and none in the last three.

Xavi’s most experimental move has been deploying Christensen as a defensive midfielder. Although surprising due to his central defender position, Xavi aims to achieve a balance similar to what Busquets provided. While not matching Busquets’ ball-playing abilities, Christensen maintains position, simplifies play, and excels in aerial duels and tactical fouls during counterattacks. With Christensen as the pivot, Barcelona has conceded six goals in the last seven games (reducing goals conceded per game from 1.87 to 0.86).

Now, the challenge is to maintain this equilibrium with the absences of Pedri and especially De Jong, a player who handles physical encounters well. Ter Stegen’s return to goal has been another decisive factor in Barcelona’s defensive improvement. According to Xavi, he is the best goalkeeper alongside Valdés in the club’s history.

Xavi is also leaning towards a three-center-back formation when the team has possession, with Koundé returning to a wider position, similar to last season. In Balde’s absence, Cancelo has filled the role of an offensive full-back, functioning almost as a winger when the team has the ball. Despite injuries to Pedri and De Jong, Xavi has had to find solutions with forwards playing more centrally, as seen with Raphinha against Mallorca.

However, the unexpected impact player in recent matches has been Cubarsí, a 17-year-old center-back. Cubarsí serves as the team’s primary passer but is also a defender capable of winning duels. The academy player proves to be a valuable asset for Barcelona’s style, emphasizing both defending with the ball and resolving defensive emergencies.