Barcelona's Achilles heel: The goalkeepers or the defence?

FC Barcelona have not began Liga BBVA in the best possible fashion this season. After seven matches, they have won five games, keeping them near the top of the table, but the negative note is that they have already lost twice (Celta Vigo and Sevilla), meaning the sensations are bittersweet. 

There are major concerns about the number of goals the team is conceding domestically, but who is to blame for this situation? The defence? The goalkeepers? In total, Barça have already leaked nine goals in their opening seven matches. 

With Claudio Bravo between the posts, the team has won two games and lost one — two goals conceded — while with Marc-Andre ter Stegen in goal, Luis Enrique’s side have won three matches and lost one — seven goals conceded. The Chilean’s average is visibly better and, in addition, with the German in goal there has been a lot of criticism this season, especially after the goals he let in from long range against Athletic Club and Roma. 

But that doesn’t conclude that the goalkeepers are Luis Enrique’s real problem. Distracted defenders have also provoked Barça’s awkward start to the season and the lack of versatility in attack was also won of the reasons things went wrong at Balaidos and the Sanchez Pizjuan. 

“Everyone defends” 

Luis Enrique has always tried to excuse both the goalkeepers and his defence for the repeated conceding of goals. Before the win over Las Palmas, without going to far, he closed the topic with the following phrase: “The defence is not just the goalkeeper and the four in front of him. It’s everyone.” That’s motive enough to get down with the idea that the Asturian has total confidence in his players, especially those most criticised. 

So, what went wrong against Sevilla on Saturday? And the other week against Celta? An accumulation of circumstances. Luckily for FC Barcelona, the league is only just getting started, and the number of absences, including Lionel Messi, obviously influence the team’s performance. That should not to serve an excuse, but as an incentive to re-invent themselves moving forward.

Now comes the international break and the Blaugrana will, surely, return to La Liga action in two weeks with much more confidence once again. FC Barcelona demonstrated last season that they have the hunger to overcome even the biggest adversities. And now they have a new challenge: to restore the winning feeling.