Barcelona secures Champions League Round of 16 spot but defensive flaws remain

Barcelona confirmed their place in the Champions League Round of 16 with a 4-1 victory over Copenhagen, finishing the group stage in fifth place. Hansi Flick’s side showcased their attacking power, ending as the second-highest scorers with 22 goals, though defensive weaknesses remain evident—they conceded the most goals among the top eight teams (14).

With a record of five wins, one draw, and two losses, Barça avoided the playoff round by collecting 16 points—the same as Chelsea, Sporting CP, and Manchester City—but finishing ahead thanks to a superior goal difference (+8).

Deadly attack: 22 goals scored, just one behind Arsenal

Barcelona has been sharp in front of goal, netting 22 times—one less than group-stage leaders Arsenal and the same as Bayern Munich. Their standout victories include:

- Copenhagen 4-1

- Slavia Prague 4-2

- Olympiacos 6-1

These performances confirm Barça as one of the most dangerous attacking teams in the 2025/26 Champions League.

Defensive vulnerabilities: a risk for the knockout stages

However, defensively, Barcelona remains exposed. Sixteen teams conceded fewer goals than the Blaugrana, including Arsenal (4), Liverpool (8), Manchester City (9), and even Real Madrid (12).

In the last four group matches, Barça fell behind early, forcing comebacks—a scenario that concerns Hansi Flick: "We need to improve and do many things better if we want to compete for the Champions League."

History repeats: prolific attack but fragile defense

The pattern mirrors last season, when Barcelona finished as both the top scorers (28) and the most-goals-conceded team (13) among the top eight. The story seems to repeat itself: explosive offense, questionable defense, and one clear goal—fight for the Champions League.

Watch beIN SPORTS Xtra live for free on YouTube