Page 3 - Barcelona 5-2 Valencia: 4 talking points

#3 Defensive frailties remain an issue for Barcelona

When Kevin Gameiro placed the ball past Marc Andre ter Stegen in the 29th minute, it meant that Barcelona have conceded in each of their four LaLiga matches till date.

Incredibly, Barcelona have conceded seven goals from just four matches, with three of those four games seeing them concede two goals.

Against Valencia, Barcelona dominated most of the possession, putting Valencia on the backfoot for majority of the match, but there were occasions when the visitors found ways to slice open the Catalan backline, especially in the 10 minutes after they got their goal.

More worryingly for Valverde would be his side's penchant for conceding late goals, with their defence having been breached from the 85th minute or later in each of their four matches thus far.

With a midfield and attack with the quality on offer at Barcelona, goals are all but guaranteed to be scored, but moving ahead, their defensive frailties have to be addressed if the Blaugrana are to achieve their goals this season.

About the author

Elvis is a seasoned football journalist and has been with Sportskeeda for more than 6 years. He specializes in writing match previews across several leagues and competitions around the world, and his insightful tips have amassed a total readership in excess of 9.2 million till date. Elvis' meticulous attention to detail and strictly following SK's editorial guidelines have been key to achieving a vast readership. He has also exclusively covered the 2021 Nigerian Universiy Games and has provided research for an upcoming biography for a Nigerian football legend.

Elvis has been a Super Eagles fan since 2004, and them beating defending champions Cameroon in the AFCON that year left a lasting impact on him. He supports Sporting Lagos at club level and loves to watch games live at the Onikan Stadium due to its buzzing atmosphere. His favorite football players are former Nigerian forward, Osaze Odemwingie and former Real Madrid legend Raul Gonzalez.

If Elvis could change one football rule, it would be to not be booked for celebrating with pitch side fans. He believes that football is a passionate game and celebrations should be encouraged to the fullest. When not analyzing the latest previews, Elvis indulges in activities such as swimming, reading, and karaoke.

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Edited by Kingshuk Kusari

Barcelona 5-2 Valencia: 4 talking points | LaLiga 2019/2020

#3 Defensive frailties remain an issue for Barcelona