Barcelona’s Offside Trap Is Cracking — Can Inzaghi’s Inter Exploit It?

For the first time in 2025, Barcelona looked vulnerable — and not just once. The 3–1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund and the narrow comeback win over Celta Vigo, despite a Borja Iglesias hat-trick, revealed a tactical flaw that could be exploited further. While Mallorca and Real Madrid didn’t capitalize on it, Simone Inzaghi might.

The issue? Barcelona’s high offside trap is no longer ironclad — and teams are starting to dismantle it.

Since the injury to left-back Alejandro Balde, the defensive line hasn’t looked as coordinated. Iñigo Martínez lacks the timing and chemistry with Gerard Martín and Héctor Fort. He reacts slower, often holding a higher line longer than he should, giving opponents time and space — especially in the gap between Martínez and the left-back zone.

But it’s not just about individual timing. Opponents are targeting Flick’s ultra-high press during buildup. When Barcelona’s fullbacks push up to engage early, they often leave acres of space behind. One sharp vertical run — especially when timed just as the fullback steps forward — and the ball can reach an unmarked runner via a triangle pass. From there, it's either a clean 1v1 or an easy assist into the box.

Borussia Dortmund exploited this pattern brilliantly. Daniel Svensson pulled Jules Koundé out wide, allowing Pascal Groß to make a blindside run into the vacated space. Since he was timed perfectly, there was no offside — and no one to stop the final ball.

This exact movement could become even more dangerous against Inter. Inzaghi’s 3-5-2 offers more width, more runners from deep, and more opportunities to stretch Barcelona’s structure horizontally. And if the Nerazzurri can time those runs right, they might slice through the Blaugrana’s high line.

Of course, Hansi Flick will try to neutralize the threat by keeping possession and minimizing transitions. But recent matches suggest that even with the ball, Barcelona aren't immune to being caught out.

Published by Patrick Jane
30.04.2025