The Barcelona 2026/27 season under Hansi Flick is about to get underway in a few hours. The German manager will be looking to bag another La Liga title and enter the history books with the Catalan side.
Only two Barcelona managers, Johan Cruyff and Pep Guardiola, have won three consecutive La Liga titles, with the former winning four in a row. Flick and his men enter the new La Liga season as favourites ahead of their arch-rivals, Real Madrid.
In this article, we will discuss the problems Flick’s side can face in the Barcelona 2026/27 season that can make it difficult for them to retain their crown.
Barcelona 2026/27 Season: Barca’s High Line Problem
The biggest issue that every manager faces when he has been at a club long enough, and especially when winning, is that his tactics and ideas get found out.
The same is the case with Hansi Flick at Barcelona. Any manager or player in the Spanish top division will tell you how you can beat Barcelona’s high line.
The idea is simple. The centre forward drops deep. Barca’s centre-back follows him, and as a result, space is created in the back line. You make one or two players run through that space, then play a long ball, and your player will be through one-on-one against the keeper.
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Solutions to Barcelona’s Defensive Woes
The key for Barca to overcome this problem is that they dominate possession as much as they can, and when they eventually lose the ball, press the opposition high to not allow them the time to play a long ball for the runners in behind.
Before the Barcelona 2026/27 season begins, Flick’s side have addressed these problems to some extent.
The signing of Rodri Hernandez increases Barca’s ability to retain possession better and starve the opposition of the ball. The additions of Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi provide Barca with pressing intensity and good off-the-ball work.
Barcelona’s Shortcomings in the Defensive Line
The one thing that Barcelona have not addressed is their weakness in the defensive line. Cancelo’s signing is important for the Blaugrana because of his versatility and the attacking threat he provides to Barca. But the Portuguese full-back does not contribute much defensively.
Without having added any defenders to their back line, rumours are that Barcelona are actively trying to sell Alejandro Balde, with Manchester United showing interest in the Spaniard. This transfer would leave the Catalan side severely short in terms of defensive depth heading into the Barcelona 2026/27 season.
If Balde leaves, a couple of signings are an absolute must for Hansi Flick’s side to get the necessary depth to compete in Europe. With only nine days remaining, it would be a race against time for Barca to bring in defenders to the Camp Nou while also trying to land a number nine.
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Striker Crisis at Nou Camp
Another key problem still looming over Barca ever since the start of the transfer window is the absence of a proven goal-scoring number nine.
Robert Lewandowski left Barca at the end of the last season upon the expiry of his contract. Ferran Torres has also left the club and joined Paris Saint-Germain.
Barcelona’s top candidate to replace Lewandowski was Atletico Madrid’s centre forward, Julian Alvarez. Barcelona have been trying to bring in the Argentine forward ever since the start of summer, but have been unsuccessful so far.
The Julian Alvarez transfer saga still seems nowhere near its end, with only nine days remaining in the summer transfer window.
In the absence of a number nine, Barcelona have been linked with every available striker option in Europe. It still remains to be seen who will wear the number nine jersey at the Camp Nou next season. But solving the striker crisis at Camp Nou is crucial for the success of the Barcelona 2026/27 season.
