Sunday's humiliating 4-1 defeat at the hands of Sevilla was more than just a shocking result; it was a brutal reality check for Hansi Flick's Barcelona.
Just when it seemed Barça had turned a corner, this resounding loss—following a midweek Champions League defeat to PSG—has exposed glaring, systemic weaknesses.
The international break couldn't have come at a better time for a side that looks mentally and physically exhausted.
This wasn't an unfortunate result. It was a well-deserved, tactical masterclass by Sevilla, built on exposing every vulnerability in Barcelona's high-line system.
The first-half collapse: A lack of intensity and cohesion. The problems started from the first whistle.
The system failed: In the first half, Sevilla pressed high and aggressively, completely suffocating Barcelona's build-up play.
The high defensive line, a trademark of Flick's system, proved disastrously porous. As one analysis put it, the defensive line was "almost non-existent".
Sevilla's attackers had no trouble exploiting the space behind it, exposing Barcelona's defense again and again.
Individual errors: Compounding the systemic failure were critical individual mistakes. Ronald Araujo, who was substituted at halftime, conceded a penalty after struggling with Sevilla's pressing. The defensive unit looked disorganized, and the intensity was lacking across the board, as midfielder Pedri himself admitted.
Fatigue is no excuse: While some players have pointed to a demanding schedule, citing "seven games in 21 days," as a mitigating factor, this doesn't excuse the complete lack of fight in the first 45 minutes.
The second-half improvement and a golden opportunity missed
Barça did show a reaction after the break, playing with more intent and creating chances. Marcus Rashford's superb volley just before halftime had offered a
glimmer of hope. The second-half performance, with substitutions like Eric Garcia and Alejandro Balde providing a needed spark, was a step up.
However, football is a game of fine margins, and Barcelona's second major issue became clear: a lack of clinical finishing.
The most damning example was Robert Lewandowski's missed penalty, which would have leveled the score at 2-2. After that, Sevilla's late goals on the counter-attack were almost inevitable, adding insult to injury.
The Flick question: Is the system the problem?
After the match, Hansi Flick insisted the system was not the problem, but the players made "big mistakes".
The media and pundits are less convinced, with some calling the high-line tactics "suicidal".
While Flick deserves credit for a much-improved second half, the first-half performance—outclassed and outfought—will raise serious questions.
What's next?
The upcoming international break is a crucial time for soul-searching. Flick needs to find answers to some big questions:
How can he address the defensive frailties without completely abandoning his philosophy?
What is the best way to utilize the squad, particularly key players who appear fatigued or out of form?
How can he instill the winning mentality required to compete for titles?
Barça may be in second place, but the gap to the top feels far wider than two points right now. The fans, who have seen this movie before, are hurting. The pressure is on Flick and his team to show that this weekend's debacle was a painful lesson, not the start of another decline.