FC Barcelona won the league title last season with the defense as their key strength. The backline of Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, Jules Kounde, and Alejandro Balde was key in keeping opposition attackers at bay last season, which ultimately proved decisive in the Catalans’ league triumph.
However, this backline saw some changes this season as Joao Cancelo came and became the starting right-back of the team, while Alejandro Balde’s poor form also forced Xavi to make some changes.
While the backline was strengthened on paper, the new setup was not as able to keep the opposition at bay as the one last season, with Barcelona having conceded a greater number of goals before the halfway point of this season than they did in the entire last season.
As Mundo Deportivo has noted, the Catalans were able to keep a clean sheet in the match against Osasuna by keeping a backline of Araujo, Kounde, Christensen, and Balde once again.
The only change in the defense was the absence of Marc Andre Ter Stegen, who was unable to appear in this match as he is recovering from his back issues, and Inaki Pena took his spot. Not only did they keep a clean sheet, but Xavi’s men were also as comfortable on the pitch as they were last season.
The defensive fragility of the team has been a key weakness for Barcelona this season, and as the Catalans have also not been able to score freely, Xavi’s men currently trail Real Madrid by seven points in La Liga.
Now, these four defenders will once again represent the Barcelona backline in the Spanish Super Cup final, as both Cancelo and Inigo Martinez are not fully fit. Thus, hopefully, Barcelona can repeat their performance from last year in the same match against the same opponent while having the same backline.
