Hansi Flick’s Barcelona boasts the most electrifying attack in Europe but remains alarmingly vulnerable at the back, particularly in the final 15 minutes of matches.

The atmosphere at Barcelona’s Joan Gamper training center was strangely mixed following their 4-4 draw with Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal. Some optimists highlighted the influence of Dani Olmo, with the former RB Leipzig star earning praise for elevating Barca’s midfield when combined with Pedri and Frenkie de Jong. However, others within the coaching staff expressed serious concern over the sheer number of goals the team has conceded, particularly in the dying moments of matches.

“We were really angry about those last minutes,” admitted young center-back Pau Cubarsí after the draw at Montjuïc, in which Barca had led 4-2 until the 83rd minute before collapsing defensively.

So far this season, across 39 matches, Barcelona has scored a staggering 120 goals, averaging 3.07 goals per game. This attacking output even surpasses the legendary 2011/12 season, Pep Guardiola’s final year in charge, when a Lionel Messi-led team scored a total of 190 goals, averaging 2.9 per match.

Robert Lewandowski leads the scoring charts with 33 goals, followed by Raphinha (24), Lamine Yamal (11), and Ferran Torres (11). No other team in Europe can boast four players who have already hit double figures this season.

However, behind this attacking firepower lies a glaring defensive weakness that Flick’s team has failed to address.

Barcelona has conceded 43 goals this season, averaging 1.10 goals per match, with 25 of those coming in La Liga, the highest among the top four teams. Even more concerning, 30% of their goals conceded have come in the final 15 minutes of matches.

“We have to learn from these mistakes, especially in how we control possession,” admitted Pedri, the key figure in Barca’s midfield transition.

In terms of squad availability, Barca’s only remaining absentees are Marc-André ter Stegen and Bernal, both ruled out for the rest of the season. This means Flick has a nearly full-strength squad at his disposal.

The German coach has repeatedly emphasized that he has 17-18 quality players to rotate, yet in reality, Barcelona lacks depth at full-back, an issue that has repeatedly left them exposed. Another major weakness is the absence of a midfield anchor capable of controlling the game’s tempo. While De Jong and Pedri excel in attacking transitions, neither has shown the ability to dictate the pace when Barcelona needs to manage a match.

Against Atletico, Flick introduced Fermin Lopez and Gavi, both energetic and aggressive but lacking the technical and tactical discipline to maintain possession in chaotic moments. The result? Defensive gaps opened up, and Atletico capitalized with two late goals. Even deploying Eric Garcia as a defensive midfielder failed to provide the necessary stability.

Conceding four goals has jeopardized Barcelona’s hopes of reaching the final and reignited concerns that Flick himself has previously raised.

“We need to work harder. This is a very young Barcelona team, but conceding four goals is simply too much,” Flick admitted. His attacking philosophy has seen Barca commit too many players forward, at times neglecting defensive responsibilities.

As the season reaches its decisive phase, Barcelona remains in contention across three competitions, but unless Flick adjusts his tactical approach, the team’s defensive frailties could prove costly in their pursuit of silverware.