Why Barca’s ballsy offside trap could change the game

Weird and wonderful things are happening at Barcelona this season.

- LAWRENCE OSTLERE

Games involving the Spanish side have seen more goals than any other team in Europe’s top five leagues. They have trapped more opponents offside than any club, too. Their kamikaze high line gives matches a bizarre look and similarly bizarre things seem to unfold: last week goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny impaled his own defender with his kneecap; in the same game, captain Raphinha scored from outside the box with his face.

All of which might be worthy of mockery if it wasn’t quite so effective, almost like Tottenham but with points. Barcelona are second in the Champions League table behind Liverpool, the only two clubs to have already qualified for the last 16 before tonight’s grand finale. They are third in La Liga, still in the title race after a recent dip in results.

Robert Lewandowski is still brilliant at 36, leading the scoring charts in La Liga and the Champions League. Raphinha has turned into one of the best players in the world. Pedri’s passing stats fall off the edge of every graph and Lamine Yamal continues his ascension towards footballing greatness.

The manager, Hansi Flick, has built a highly entertaining yet fallible team, and perhaps the most fascinating thing about this incarnation of Barcelona is that no other major team in Europe plays the game quite like they do. The goalkeeper sweeps half the pitch, the defence take up station on the halfway line while midfielders and forwards press as if their lives depend on it, smothering opposition to force mistakes. They average 67 per cent possession and their opponents’ average pass-completion rate is the lowest among Europe’s top five leagues.