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Breaking down the biggest games and news surrounding FC Barcelona.
Episodes
Tuesday Dec 14, 2021
Tuesday Dec 14, 2021
The BarcaBreakdown discuss the 2-2 draw vs. Osasuna in La Liga. Xavi's Barca unfortunately could not hold their lead after scoring both goals, leading to a late Osasuna goal. Gavi, Nico, and Balde continue to impress as the youngsters are performing much better than experienced plays like Pique, Alba, and Busquets. We continue to see worrying signs from Frenkie De Jong, who looks like he has lost his enjoyment of playing the game. Rumors are swirling that Ter Stegen and De Jong are no longer invincible from transfers, so it will be interesting if Xavi can help get Frenkie back on track. Unfortunately, with massive injuries to our front line, we had to start Luuk De Jong. Luuk once again showed that he is not able to play at the level Barca need him to. Please like, comment and subscribe to our channel! Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarcaBreakdown Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barcabreakdown Listen to our podcast on Spotify or Apple/Itunes Podcast. Please support the Barca Breakdown and subscribe to our channel and like our videos. Please let us know in the comments what type of content you want to see more of!
Thursday Dec 09, 2021
Thursday Dec 09, 2021
The BarcaBreakdown discuss FC Barcelona's 3-0 loss to Bayern Munich and the next chapter for Xavi/Barca in the Europa League. Unfortunately, Bayern Munich were too much for Barca to handle, especially when we are playing many of the same backline as we did during the 8-2 loss, including Marc Andre Ter Stegen, Pique, Lengelet, Busquets, and Jordi Alba. Barca currently don't have the players needed to compete with Champions League favorites like Bayern Munich. We suffer in defense, but we also suffer from the lack of any clear goal scoring threat as well. Xavi has his work cut out for him as he leads Barca in the Europa league for the first time in 17 years. We are still facing the negatives of the Bartomeu board, and the mismanagement and failure to plan that has left us starting many under 21 year old players and financial distress that makes future signings hard. At a time when we need players like Adeyemi, Halaand etc. being in the Europa League will make it much harder for us to attract players to Barca. Please like, comment and subscribe to our channel! Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarcaBreakdown Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barcabreakdown Listen to our podcast on Spotify or Apple/Itunes Podcast. Please support the Barca Breakdown and subscribe to our channel and like our videos. Please let us know in the comments what type of content you want to see more of!
Saturday Dec 04, 2021
Saturday Dec 04, 2021
The Barca Breakdown discussed the first loss under the Xavi Era against Real Betis. Unfortunately, Xavi did not choose to start Dembele and Frenkie De Jong who were both instrumental in the majority of opportunities on goal. The Barca starting line-up featured Dest as right back, Abde as right wing, and Gavi moved back to the midfield. The first 15 minutes had opportunities for Barca to score and press Betis. Despite this, Barca fell into their usual low energy, slow, and unmotivated game finishing off the first half. As the second half progressed, Xavi recognized changes were needed especially after Gavi was removed for Puig due to a head injury. Dembele came on and immediately made a world of difference with his speed, passing, and shots on goal. A few shots were just wide from Dembele giving a sense of hope and lethality. Like usual, Barca played a high defensive line resulting in a counter and the winning goal from Juanmi. Furthermore, Dest was unaware and did not mark Juanmi, leaving Stegen to concede. We criticized Xavi for his choice of starters, assuming he rested them for the game against Bayern Munich. We question why there was a need to do this assuming our true hope to progress in the Champions League will result from Benfica losing or drawing to Dynamo Kyiv. Overall, we need to prioritize La Liga to climb the table for next year's Champions League. Barca Face Bayern Munich on Wednesday, December 8th. Please like, comment and subscribe to our channel! Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarcaBreakdown Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barcabreakdown Listen to our podcast on Spotify or Apple/Itunes Podcast. Please support the Barca Breakdown and subscribe to our channel and like our videos. Please let us know in the comments what type of content you want to see more of!
Friday Dec 03, 2021
Friday Dec 03, 2021
The BarcaBreakdown discuss the contract negotiations with Ousmane Dembele as well as Lionel Messi winning his seventh Ballon d'Or! FC Barcelona is also close to signing Ferran Torres from Manchester City, and Sergi Roberto is undergoing a quadriceps injury that may keep him out for 8 weeks. Ousmane Dembele's contract is up in the summer of 2022, meaning Laporta and the Board will need to resign him this winter or Dembele will leave for free next Summer. Unfortunately, the press are reporting that though Dembele wants to stay at Barca, his agent is claiming he has much better offers from other European soccer teams. Though we love Dembele, we find the reports that he is trying to get "potential Ballon d'Or" money ridiculous considering his injury woes and general lack of consisten playing time during his stay with Barca. We are in favor of an incentive based contract that rewards him for playing well, though Dembele of course wants more guaranteed money. Ferran Torres, the forward for Manchester City and Spain, is reportedly agreeing to terms with FC Barcelona for a reduced wage that may see him come this winter transfer period. Man City and Barca are almost in agreement on a deal themselves, though of course FC Barcelona always have issues spending money due to our financial issues. Please like, comment and subscribe to our channel! Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarcaBreakdown Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barcabreakdown Listen to our podcast on Spotify or Apple/Itunes Podcast. Please support the Barca Breakdown and subscribe to our channel and like our videos. Please let us know in the comments what type of content you want to see more of!
Sunday Nov 28, 2021
Sunday Nov 28, 2021
The Barca Breakdown discusses Barca's first away victory and 2 consecutive wins in La Liga for the 2021-22 Season. With the continued roster of injured players, Xavi is left with deploying Gavi at the left wing and Erica Garcia as right back. Xavi also utilized Abde with his first starts for FC Barcelona. As the match began, many players created threatening opportunities on goal like Depay's 2 chances at goal that went just wide. Also, FDJ provided an offensive mindset running into the box and fighting to score. Abde continued to attack the right wing, breaking defenders in attempts to cross the ball into the box. All of these feats unfortunately bore no goals in the first half. As the second half began, a cross from Alba came to Depay's feet and his shot was blocked. Luckily, Frenkie De Jong made a run in the box and was able to put away the first goal of the match. Barca's performance began to look weak as Villarreal pressed up the field causing havoc. Eventually, Chukwueze was able to smash an equalizer in the back of the net. This game might have been over at this moment under Ronald Koeman. Although, Xavi as manager has seemed to have given life to the young squad and they backed the coach up. In the last 15 minutes of the game, a long ball over the top from Ter Stegen was able to find Depay who cracked the tie and took the lead. It didn't stop there, in the 90'+4, the substitute Coutinho drew a penalty and scored it to wrap the final 1-3 for the Blaugrana. We discuss the incremental improvements Xavi has been able to create with the young Barca squad and are they enough to get Barca into the top 4 of La Liga. Barca sit 7th on the table and will face Real Betis (5th on the table) next. Please like, comment and subscribe to our channel! Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarcaBreakdown Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barcabreakdown Listen to our podcast on Spotify or Apple/Itunes Podcast. Please support the Barca Breakdown and subscribe to our channel and like our videos. Please let us know in the comments what type of content you want to see more of!
Wednesday Nov 24, 2021
Wednesday Nov 24, 2021
The BarcaBreakdown discuss the 0-0 tie by FC Barcelona and Benfica in the Champions League Group Stage. Xavi's team looked much better, with players like Araujo, Dembele, Nico, and Gavi continuing to impress as the team plays much better soccer compared to the Koeman Era. However, FC Barcelona will now have to get a win or draw against Bayern Munich if Benfica are able to get points against Dynamo Kyiv in the last match day of the group stage.
Xavi's continues to impress as manager even with injuries to Pedri, Fati and Braithwaite, as well as Dembele barely returning. The issues with the squad remain, as we have hardly any strikers healthy on the team and very few wingers to deploy. It will certainly be a challenge for us to score until our whole squad is healthy. Deploying Gavi as a winger is probably not his best position, but one we must maintain with our forwards injured.
Though we drew in a huge match, the general consensus is there is much to be hopeful for with Xavi leading the team. The players seem to have a sense of passion back, and the quickness of passing between the 3 lines is showing huge improvements since the beginning of the season. Araujo and Lengelet featured for the first time in a few matches, which is exciting to see. Xavi seems to be rotating players often, which will help us avoid injuries that have plagued us this season.
Please like, comment and subscribe to our channel!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarcaBreakdown
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barcabreakdown
Listen to our podcast on Spotify or Apple/Itunes Podcast. Please support the Barca Breakdown and subscribe to our channel and like our videos. Please let us know in the comments what type of content you want to see more of!
Sunday Nov 21, 2021
Sunday Nov 21, 2021
The Barca Breakdown discuss Xavi's first game as victors of the Catalan Derby. While we believed the Xavi may deploy a 4-2-3-1 due to a lack of attackers, to our surprise, Xavi deployed a 4-3-3. In place of the injured attackers (Dembele, Fati, Brathwaite), Xavi placed Gavi on the Left wing and Barca B youngster Ilias with Depay in the middle. The first half had many flashes of promising play from Busquets and Frenkie De Jong moving the ball forward and players creating some shots on goal. We criticized the fact that players are taking low percentage shots from outside the box. Luckily, in the second half, Depay was awarded a penalty and subsequently scored it to take Barca to a 1-0 lead. As the second half progressed, players seemed to struggle to prevent the Espanyol attackers from creating threatening opportunities. Two of which were headers that were just outside the post. Overall, Xavi deployed Barca youngsters in a promising fashion, with some improvements. The team still needs to clean up their defense coming into the Champions League game against Benfica. Lastly, we emphasize the need to give Xavi time to lead our team and the players to adjust under the difficult situation (including the injured players previously mentioned and Pedri/Nico). Please like, comment and subscribe to our channel! Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarcaBreakdown Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barcabreakdown Listen to our podcast on Spotify or Apple/Itunes Podcast. Please support the Barca Breakdown and subscribe to our channel and like our videos. Please let us know in the comments what type of content you want to see more of!
Thursday Nov 18, 2021
Thursday Nov 18, 2021
The BarcaBreakdown discuss the upcoming game against Espanyol at the Camp Nou, which will be Xavi's first match as manager of FC Barcelona in La Liga. We discuss which lineup Xavi will start, while wondering how we will see Pedri and Gavi play together as Pedri is finally fit.
At Al Sadd, Xavi often played a 3-4-3 and 4-2-3-1. At Barca, of course the 4-3-3 is a popular line up. Considering the players we have injured on the front line, including Dembele, Fati, Braithwaite, Aguero, it will be very interesting who Xavi plays with Depay up front. Of course, with Xavi's meritocracy comments, we will see if players like Coutinho and Luuk De Jong get chances to prove themselves with their new coach.
In the midfield, the big news is that Pedri is back. In addition, with Xavi often playing a 4-2-3-1, we are excited to see a Busquets-Frenkie De Jong double pivot utilized. We are looking for Xavi to get the best out of Frenkie specifically, as rumors of the club shopping around Frenkie seem shortsighted. With such high hopes for Frenkie, we believe Xavi will be the manager to utilize him best.
In defense, we also contemplate whether Pique will start, considering he has had a slow start to the season. As Umtiti was mentioned as impressing Xavi in practice according to media reports, that leaves us with Eric Garcia, Lengelet, Pique, Araujo as options for centerback. If we do a 3-4-3, it should be noted that Mingueza did well in that 3 centerback formation last season under Koeman.
Please like, comment and subscribe to our channel!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarcaBreakdown
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barcabreakdown
Listen to our podcast on Spotify or Apple/Itunes Podcast. Please support the Barca Breakdown and subscribe to our channel and like our videos. Please let us know in the comments what type of content you want to see more of!
Saturday Nov 13, 2021
Saturday Nov 13, 2021
The BarcaBreakdown discuss Xavi's 10 rules implemented to help restore order to the team, the return of Dani Alves to Barca and Laporta's comments about a possible Raheem Sterling transfer. We also discuss Samuel Umtiti impressing Xavi in training and Sergio Aguero's health updates which do not look positive yet.
Xavi has implemented 10 new rules to help ensure Barca players are on time to practice, as well as rules to foster camaraderie amongst the team by having the players eat together. In order to get the best out of youth players like Gavi, Nico, Fati etc. Xavi is clearly starting with an orderly team to make sure everyone buys into his team vision. He is also implementing a meritocracy, so that the players who perform best in game and in practice are allowed to play the most. This is a great start to try and make sure veteran leaders like Pique, Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Sergi Roberto know that they can no longer count on starting due to their seniority.
Dani Alves has returned! Dani Alves is the player with the most trophies in the history of soccer with 43. After playing with FC Barcelona between 2008-2016, he has finally returned. Though we do not think he has the ability to start big games at his age of 38, we believe Alves can be crucial to mentoring young players. We think as a right back he can be especially crucial to help Sergino Dest continue to improve and master the position.
We discuss how Samuel Umtiti is impressing in training, so much so that Xavi singled him out and congratulated his effort so far. Sergio Aguero has not very good news from the medical team, and may be forced to retire pending tests after a 90 day no training period. We hope he is healthy and can recover well.
Please like, comment and subscribe to our channel!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarcaBreakdown
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barcabreakdown
Listen to our podcast on Spotify or Apple/Itunes Podcast. Please support the Barca Breakdown and subscribe to our channel and like our videos. Please let us know in the comments what type of content you want to see more of!
Tuesday Nov 09, 2021
Tuesday Nov 09, 2021
The BarcaBreakdown discuss Xavi’s presentation in front of 10,000 fans at the Camp Nou as the new manager for FC Barcelona. The return of an all-time club and football legend in Xavi is a great moment for all Barca fans. We hope to see Xavi succeed, and we are happy Joan Laporta finally has the coach he prefers in charge. Xavi spoke about many different topics during his interview with Barca TV. Xavi placed a heavy importance on establishing rules in the team and increasing our training intensity. Both of these are critical for Barca to do considering the lack of on the field leadership and constant injury woes. Xavi also made a point to say he wants to return to the Barca way of attacking football and to see FC Barcelona once again as the best club in the world. Speaking about coaching his former teammates, Xavi said he did not believe coaching Ter Stegen, Alba, Busquets, Pique, and Sergi Roberto would be hard as knowing them would help him push them better in training. Xavi also discussed how every player would start with a clean slate, and players like Umtiti and Lengelet would have the chance to prove themselves in front of Xavi. Please like, comment and subscribe to our channel! Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarcaBreakdown Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barcabreakdown Listen to our podcast on Spotify or Apple/Itunes Podcast. Please support the Barca Breakdown and subscribe to our channel and like our videos. Please let us know in the comments what type of content you want to see more of!