2 hours ago 1

Barcelona’s loss to Sevilla exposes a worrying factor that has plagued them since last season

Barcelona’s heavy 1-4 defeat at Sevilla has once again highlighted a worrying trend, which shows the team struggles to hold onto results in the dying minutes of matches.

Time and again, games that go into stoppage time have become a nightmare for the Blaugrana.

In their drive to turn matches around, they leave gaps that opponents exploit ruthlessly. On Sunday, Sevilla punished them late, scoring in the 90th and 95th minutes to seal a crushing win.

Unfortunately, this pattern is not new. Just a few days earlier, Barcelona lost at home to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, with Goncalo Ramos scoring in the 90th minute.

Since Hansi Flick took charge in the summer of 2024, Barça have now conceded eight goals in the closing stages of games.

For what it is worth, Flick first experienced this against Celta, when a 2-0 lead slipped away to a draw in 2024.

A recurring pattern of late goals

The same scenario repeated against Betis, where Assane Diao’s 94th-minute strike forced a 2-2 draw in December 2024.

Alexander Sørloth has also haunted Barcelona in last-minute moments, including the 4-4 draw in the Copa del Rey semi-final.

Furthermore, in the Champions League semi-finals, Francesco Acerbi’s 93rd-minute goal pushed the game into extra time, and Inter eventually ended Barça’s hopes.

Barcelona’s issues are compounded by their tendency to concede early. Often chasing the game, they are forced into high-pressure situations from the start, and the clock becomes an enemy.

Flick’s team needs to find a way to maintain concentration from the first whistle to the last.

If not addressed, these late collapses risk defining their season, leaving them vulnerable even when performances earlier in the match are solid.

Read Entire Article