Prepare for an opponent

Shape by phase

Where each player takes the ball in each phase of play. Circle size = his share of the touches in that phase. Switch the phase, and hover or click a player to pick him out.

Vision AI Analyst

What they doThe build-up runs through the goalkeeper: Joan García is involved in 41% of build-up phases, and his passes to Pau Cubarsí (81) and Gerard Martín (78) are the most common links. Both full-backs stay wide. In the final third Lamine Yamal holds the right touchline and takes the largest share of touches (13%), while Fermín López and Dani Olmo work the inside channels.

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How to deal with it4 points

1. Cut the first link: their most common build-up passes go from Joan García to Pau Cubarsí and Gerard Martín, so press the keeper's pass and screen the lane between the centre-backs. In the final third, keep Lamine Yamal's touchline tight and track the runs into the inside channels.
2. In midfield the ball runs through Pau Cubarsí (27% of progression phases) and the Pau Cubarsí to Gerard Martín link (136): press that pair, not the ball.
3. In the final third their main links are Jules Koundé to Lamine Yamal (57) and Lamine Yamal to Jules Koundé (45): mark the receivers of both.
4. If you cut the first link they turn to Joan García to Gerard Martín (78) and Pau Cubarsí to Joan García (74): cover both.

What Barcelona do more than anyone

Bar = how many times the league median; white tick = the median.

Pass rotationBuild-up

#1 of 203.0× the median

43 times in 20 matches. Most involved: Joan García 19, João Cancelo 17, Pau Cubarsí 16.

Vision AI Analyst

What they doBarcelona use the back line and the goalkeeper as a circulation hub: they rotate the ball in build-up three times as often as the median La Liga side, and Joan García is the most involved player. The rotations are there to drag the first line of the press across, so a press that leaves the keeper free is pressing only half the chain.

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How to deal with itPress the goalkeeper as part of the chain: send the first presser at Joan García and screen the return pass to him, so the rotation has no free end. Show the ball wide to a full-back and squeeze there.

Pass rotationProgression

#1 of 202.8× the median

145 times in 20 matches. Most involved: Pau Cubarsí 61, Gerard Martín 58, João Cancelo 38.

Vision AI Analyst

What they doTheir midfield progression runs through the centre-backs, not the midfielders: Pau Cubarsí (61) and Gerard Martín (58) are involved in more of their 145 rotations than anyone else. Barcelona move the opponent sideways before they move forward, so the ball returning to a centre-back is the signal that the next pass is the one that breaks the line.

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How to deal with itDon't chase the sideways passes. Hold the midfield line, and step out only when the ball goes back to Cubarsí or Martín: that is the moment to close the forward passing lane.

Passing trianglesBuild-up

#1 of 202.5× the median

17 times in 20 matches. Most involved: Alejandro Balde 7, Marc Bernal 6, Eric García 5.

Vision AI Analyst

What they doPassing triangles in the build-up are 2.5 times the league median, with Alejandro Balde and Marc Bernal most involved. A full-back and a holding midfielder forming the third angle is how they play out under pressure without going long.

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How to deal with itTake away the third angle: when Balde has the ball, have someone on Bernal so the triangle cannot close. Without it, they have to go long, which is not how they want to play out.

Underlapping runProgression

#1 of 201.7× the median

51 times in 20 matches. Most involved: Jules Koundé 12, Lamine Yamal 9, Eric García 9.

Vision AI Analyst

What they doUnderlapping runs, 1.7 times the median, are a signature of their right side: Jules Koundé runs inside while Lamine Yamal holds the width. Whoever marks Yamal has to pass Koundé on, or the full-back arrives unmarked in the half-space.

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How to deal with itAgree the handover before the match: one player tracks Koundé's run inside while another stays on Yamal's width, or drop a midfielder into the right half-space so Koundé never arrives there unmarked.

One-two (wall pass)Final third

#1 of 201.6× the median

32 times in 20 matches. Most involved: Lamine Yamal 10, Dani Olmo 10, Ferran Torres 8.

Vision AI Analyst

What they doNear the box they combine instead of crossing: one-twos are 1.6 times the league median, shared almost evenly by Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres. A defender who follows the ball rather than the runner is beaten twice.

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How to deal with itDefend the runner, not the ball: when Yamal, Olmo or Torres plays it and goes, his marker drops with him, and a midfielder screens the return pass.

Passing trianglesProgression

#2 of 202.4× the median

113 times in 20 matches. Most involved: Lamine Yamal 30, Dani Olmo 27, Jules Koundé 25.

Vision AI Analyst

What they doThe right-sided triangle of Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo and Jules Koundé is the engine of their progression (2.4 times the median, 2nd in the league). The same three names appear across the underlaps and one-twos above: this is one mechanism, not three separate habits.

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How to deal with itSlide your block one lane towards their right and outnumber the Yamal–Olmo–Koundé triangle. It is one mechanism, so breaking it shuts down the underlaps and one-twos as well.

How and where they win the ball back

Their pressing zone, what triggers a regain, and who does it.

Vision AI Analyst

What they do28.8 defensive actions a match in the opponent's final 40%, and opponents got out of their build-up only 41% of the time, against a league average of 48%. Their pressers win the ball when the opponent dribbles or takes a heavy touch (41% of high regains, 1st in the league), not by intercepting forward passes (18%, last of 20). Fermín López is both the busiest presser and the top ball-winner.

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How to deal with it6 points

1. Don't dribble or take an extra touch under their press: that is where 41% of their high regains come from. Play first-time, and go long past the first line; they rank last for winning the ball from forward passes.
2. 74% of their high ball-wins are second balls (16.3 a match), mostly after crosses (33%) and from loose balls (19%): do not clear loosely, make sure you win the second ball.
3. They also win it straight back after losing it (1.9 a match): the first pass after you win it must go forward and away from them.
4. Fermín López (64) and Dani Olmo (50) start most of their presses: pass around them, not into them.
5. Their press is hard to escape (41% against 48% for the average press): do not build short into it without a plan.
6. 8% of their high regains come after the opponent passes sideways (7th in the league): Avoid sideways passes in your own third: they step onto them.

When they win it, and when they lose it

Fast attacks after winning the ball, where opponents hurt them after a loss, and the counter-press.

Vision AI Analyst

What they doWhen they win the ball, Barcelona break about 12 times a match and 18% of those attacks end in a shot. When they lose it, the danger comes down their left: 52% of the xG they concede in transition, against 34% of their own attacking xG on that side. Their counter-press wins the ball back 36% of the time when it is lost in their own third, but only 25% in the final third.

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How to deal with it4 points

1. When you win the ball, attack their left at once: 52% of the xG they concede in transition comes from that side. If you lose it in their final third, play forward quickly; their counter-press wins it back only 25% of the time there.
2. Their counters start with Pedri (27), Fermín López (25) and Lamine Yamal (20): when you lose it, close those three first.
3. 18% of their 11.9 counters a match end in a shot: stop the first pass, with a foul if you have to, before the second.
4. If you lose it in their final third they win it straight back only 25% of the time: that is the safest place to risk a forward ball. In their own third it is 36%: do not lose it there.

How they play their possessions

Every controlled possession typed by how it was played, against the league share (white tick).

Vision AI Analyst

What they doBarcelona keep the ball: 26% of their possessions are sustained circulations of 10 or more passes, three times the league share (9%), and those end in a shot 15% of the time against 12% for the league. They rarely go direct: 6% of their possessions against 13% for the league.

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How to deal with it4 points

1. Expect long spells without the ball: a quarter of their possessions are 10+ pass circulations, three times the league. Stay compact and press on a trigger, not all the time: the ball going back to a centre-back is the moment.
2. Their sustained circulation (10+ passes) end in a shot 15% of the time (league 12%): do not let that type of possession settle.
3. They play direct attack less than the league (6% against 13%): do not prepare for it.
4. Their direct attacks end in a shot 4.5% of the time against 2.7% for the league: the first ball forward is the one to win.

Where their game fails, and how often

Each stage against the league (white tick).

Vision AI Analyst

What they doThey lose the ball less than the league at every stage: 1.9 giveaways per 10 build-up phases (league 2.7), 2.4 in midfield (league 3.0), and 47% of their deliveries into the box fail to arrive (league 58%). Where they are only average is the block: opponents who reach their final third create something 48% of the time, the same as the league.

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How to deal with it3 points

1. They rarely give the ball away in build-up or midfield, so do not bet on forcing errors deep in their half for 90 minutes. Their block is only league average once you reach their final third: get the ball there, and keep runners arriving.
2. Do not bet on this: build-up breaks down (giveaways per 10 build-up phases: 1.85 against 2.70), they are better than the league there.
3. Do not bet on this: final third breaks down (deliveries into the box that fail to arrive: 47% against 58%), they are better than the league there.

How teams hurt them

Not just shots: what happens when their progression stalls, where they lose the ball and what the opponent does with it, how the ball is won off them, and how opponents get into their box. Full season, every club in the league as the yardstick (white tick = league median).

When their progression stalls

League median: 38% reach the final third, 38% are lost. 1926 midfield phases of 3+ actions.

How the ball is won off them

How opponents get into their box

Vision AI Analyst

What they do52% of their midfield phases reach the final third (2nd in the league, median 38%); when one stalls it is lost 29% of the time and played back 8%. Opponents win the ball off them from a long ball or second ball 21% of the time, against a league median of 8%. After a loss, opponents reach their defensive third 38% of the time (league 42%) and their box 16% (19%), but the xG opponents create after winning it is 0.38 a match, 3rd highest in the league: when it goes wrong it goes badly wrong. The costliest place for them to lose it: the right wing of their own third, where 16% of 106 losses lead to an opponent shot or box entry. Opponents get into their box 10.3 times a match (19th most in the league), more often than elsewhere with long balls in behind (5% of entries, league 3%).

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How to deal with it7 points

1. Make them play long and win the second ball: that is where they lose it more than other sides.
2. When you win it, go forward at once: attacks straight after a regain are where they concede the most.
3. Win it in the right wing of their own third: from there your attacks reach their box most often.
4. Get into their box with long balls in behind: it works against them more than against most sides.
5. Their losses cost the most xG when João Cancelo (0.79 xG against from 75 losses), Gavi (0.54 from 16) and Alejandro Balde (0.47 from 57) lose it: press them first.
6. Their losses cost them most in midfield on their left (134 losses, 7 shots, 0.80 xG against): win it there.
7. Where the xG they concede comes from: settled attack 39%, transition after winning the ball 30%, set piece 14%: prepare the first two.

Evidence · 38 league matches, 2230 balls lost and what followed, ranked against 20 clubs

Their corners

Where they deliver, who takes them, and who attacks the first ball.

Vision AI Analyst

What they do134 corners, 6.7 a match, and 28% end in a shot. Most go to the near post (57%), but the central zone is the most dangerous per corner (31% shot rate, 1.5 xG). Marcus Rashford takes the most (34) and Eric García is the most frequent first target (8).

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How to deal with it4 points

1. Most corners go to the near post (57%), but the central zone is the most dangerous per corner: put your best header in the middle, keep a body on the near post, and mark Eric García, their most frequent first target.
2. Short corners end in a shot 33% of the time (9 of them): cover that zone first.
3. First contacts go to Eric García (8), Robert Lewandowski (5) and Ferran Torres (5): mark all three, not just one.
4. Marcus Rashford takes 34 of their 134 corners (25%): the delivery comes from one player, so put pressure on him and the first ball.

Who makes it work

What each key player does, from the same sequences.

Vision AI Analyst

What they doLamine Yamal is the main threat: 92 entries into the box, about half ending in a shot, and 9 goals from 7.2 npxG. Fermín López is the most effective box entrant (64% end in a shot) and the top ball-winner high up (34). Pedri connects it all: 90% of his build-up exits carry on cleanly.

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How to deal with it4 points

1. Double up on Lamine Yamal (92 box entries, 9 goals) and show him away from the box; track Fermín López's runs into the area (64% end in a shot); and press Pedri as he receives in build-up rather than after: left alone, 90% of his exits carry on cleanly.
2. Lamine Yamal: takes it into the final third 22 times (45% become a chance); gets it into the box 92 times (49% end in a shot). Limit his touches in those zones.
3. Fermín López: takes it into the final third 27 times (52% become a chance); gets it into the box 33 times (64% end in a shot). Limit his touches in those zones.
4. Eric García: plays 52 build-up exits (77% carry on cleanly); takes it into the final third 65 times (55% become a chance). Limit his touches in those zones.

A plan for the team facing them

34 points in 10 areas, each with the numbers behind it.

Beating their press 5 points

Vision AI Analyst

What they doTheir press is built to win the ball back from short passes. Sides that skipped the first line escaped 9 points more often (45% against 36%), and the difference holds up statistically (p = 0.04): going long is a real escape route, not a panic clearance.

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How to deal with itGo long early, past their first line, and compete for the second ball.

Evidence · Opponents who went long most (43% of build-ups) got out of their press 45% of the time; those who mostly played short (26% long) got out 36% (p=0.0432).

Vision AI Analyst

What they do41% of their ball-wins high up come straight after a failed dribble or a heavy touch, against a league median of 28%, and only 18% from intercepted forward passes. Their pressers pounce on hesitation far more than they read passes.

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How to deal with itIn your own build-up area, play on one or two touches: don't try to dribble past their press, and keep first touches clean.

Evidence · 41% of their high regains come straight after the opponent tries to dribble past someone or takes a bad touch (league median 28%); only 18% come from forward passes.

Vision AI Analyst

What they doAlavés show it can be done: going long on 78% of their build-ups, they escaped Barcelona's press two times in three, against an average of 41% for everyone else.

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How to deal with itCopy the sides that escaped it: Alaves got out 67% (long on 78%).

Evidence · Average escape rate against them is 41%.

Vision AI Analyst

What they do74% of their 439 high ball-wins this season are second balls (16.3 a match).

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How to deal with itWin the second ball: do not clear loosely.

Vision AI Analyst

What they doAverage escape rate against them is 41%.

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How to deal with itCopy the sides that escaped it: Alaves got out 70% (long on 80%).

Where to press 4 points

Vision AI Analyst

What they doGiveaways in the left of their own third lead to an opponent shot 13% of the time across 39 cases. It is the riskiest zone of their build-up, and the one a press should aim at.

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How to deal with itPress their build-up in the left of their own third.

Evidence · Giveaways there lead to a shot 13% of the time (39 giveaways).

Vision AI Analyst

What they doFermín López 64 high defensive actions, Dani Olmo 50, in 20 matches.

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How to deal with itPlay around Fermín López and Dani Olmo, who start most of their presses.

Vision AI Analyst

What they doJoão Cancelo 0.79 xG from 75 losses, Gavi 0.54 from 16, Alejandro Balde 0.47 from 57; 1143 losses in all (57 a match).

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How to deal with itPress João Cancelo, Gavi and Alejandro Balde first: their losses lead to the most xG against.

Vision AI Analyst

What they doTheir losses there cost 0.80 xG over 20 matches (134 losses, 7 shots).

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How to deal with itWin it in midfield on their left.

Transitions 2 points

Vision AI Analyst

What they doBarcelona's left side is the open door after they lose the ball: half the xG they concede in transition comes down it, while only about a third of their own attacking threat uses that channel. When the ball is lost, that flank is left short.

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How to deal with itWhen you win it, go down their left side immediately.

Evidence · 50% of the xG they concede after losing the ball comes down their left side (114 attacks, 21 shots), against 34% of their own attacking xG through that channel.

Vision AI Analyst

What they doThey start 27, 25 and 20 of their 239 counters, and 18% end in a shot.

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How to deal with itAfter losing it, close Pedri, Fermín López and Lamine Yamal first.

What to deny 1 point

Vision AI Analyst

What they doLamine Yamal carrying into the box from the right half-space is their single most dangerous route: 55 times in the window, and 62% end in a shot, against 44% for all their other routes.

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How to deal with itTheir most dangerous route: Lamine Yamal getting into the box with a carry from the right half-space. Double up on him there and show him away from goal.

Evidence · 55 times in the window, 62% end in a shot vs 44% for their other routes.

How teams hurt them 4 points

Vision AI Analyst

What they doOpponents win the ball off them from a long ball or second ball 21% of the time, against a league median of 8%.

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How to deal with itMake them play long and win the second ball: that is where they lose it more than other sides.

Vision AI Analyst

What they doAfter a loss, opponents reach their defensive third 38% of the time (league 42%) and their box 16% (19%), but the xG opponents create after winning it is 0.38 a match, 3rd highest in the league: when it goes wrong it goes badly wrong.

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How to deal with itWhen you win it, go forward at once: attacks straight after a regain are where they concede the most.

Vision AI Analyst

What they doThe costliest place for them to lose it: the right wing of their own third, where 16% of 106 losses lead to an opponent shot or box entry.

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How to deal with itWin it in the right wing of their own third: from there your attacks reach their box most often.

Vision AI Analyst

What they doOpponents get into their box 10.3 times a match (19th most in the league), more often than elsewhere with long balls in behind (5% of entries, league 3%).

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How to deal with itGet into their box with long balls in behind: it works against them more than against most sides.

How they concede 3 points

Vision AI Analyst

What they do39% of the xG they concede comes from it (69 shots, 8 goals, 7.5 xG).

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How to deal with itBeat them in settled play: that is where the most xG against them comes from.

Vision AI Analyst

What they do30% of the xG they concede comes from it (50 shots, 3 goals, 5.6 xG).

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How to deal with itAttack them in transition: it is a major source of the xG against them.

Vision AI Analyst

What they do14% of the xG they concede comes from it (31 shots, 1 goals, 2.7 xG).

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How to deal with itWin set pieces: a large share of the xG against them comes from dead balls.

Defending the box 3 points

Vision AI Analyst

What they do19% of the chances they concede come from the cross (league 13%), worth 0.14 xG each.

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How to deal with itPrepare for the cross: it works against them more than against most sides.

Vision AI Analyst

What they do10% of the chances they concede come from the through ball (league 4%), worth 0.21 xG each.

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How to deal with itPrepare for the through ball: it works against them more than against most sides.

Vision AI Analyst

What they doOnly 5% of their box entries are crosses (2nd lowest of 20 in La Liga (league median 11%)); 62% come from the half-spaces.

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How to deal with itStay narrow and protect the half-spaces; you can concede crosses.

Key players 3 points

Vision AI Analyst

What they dogets it into the box 92 times (49% end in a shot); 56 shots, 7.2 npxG, 9 goals.

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How to deal with itLimit Lamine Yamal: takes it into the final third 22 times (45% become a chance).

Vision AI Analyst

What they dogets it into the box 33 times (64% end in a shot); 41 shots, 4.1 npxG, 2 goals.

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How to deal with itLimit Fermín López: takes it into the final third 27 times (52% become a chance).

Vision AI Analyst

What they dotakes it into the final third 65 times (55% become a chance); 20 ball wins high up the pitch.

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How to deal with itLimit Eric García: plays 52 build-up exits (77% carry on cleanly).

Set pieces 3 points

Vision AI Analyst

What they do33% of their 9 short corners end in a shot (all corners: 28%).

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How to deal with itCover the short corner first.

Vision AI Analyst

What they doFirst contacts 8, 5 and 5 across 134 corners.

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How to deal with itMark Eric García, Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres: they win the first contact.

Vision AI Analyst

What they do28% of their corners end in a shot; first contacts: Eric García (8), Robert Lewandowski (5), Ferran Torres (5).

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How to deal with itAvoid conceding corners; mark Eric García first.

Game state 6 points

Vision AI Analyst

What they domiddle-third phases that progressed into the final third: 67% against the more aggressive pressers, 77% against the deeper / passive sides (360 against 390 cases, p = 0.00).

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How to deal with itUse the split: against the more aggressive pressers against the deeper / passive sides.

Vision AI Analyst

What they domiddle-third phases that progressed into the final third: 65% when leading, 76% when level (337 against 354 cases, p = 0.00).

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How to deal with itUse the split: when leading against when level.

Vision AI Analyst

What they dobuild-up exits with a long ball: 23% when leading, 15% when level (175 against 173 cases, p = 0.05).

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How to deal with itWhen you press them hard, expect the long ball and be ready for the second ball.

Vision AI Analyst

What they domiddle-third phases that progressed into the final third: 88% when trailing, 76% when level (59 against 354 cases, p = 0.04).

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How to deal with itUse the split: when trailing against when level.

Vision AI Analyst

What they dobuild-up exits by carrying it out: 13% second half, 22% first half (170 against 195 cases, p = 0.03).

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How to deal with itUse the split: second half against first half.

Vision AI Analyst

What they doWhen leading their long-ball build-up exits rise to 23% (from 15% when level).

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How to deal with itIf they go ahead, expect more direct play: win the second balls rather than press their first line.

Every match, read against their own norm

The featured match first; pick any of the 20 for the analyst's read of it.

2026-01-03 · Barcelona won 2-0 v Espanyol · xG 1.91 to 1.32Won 2-0, chances 1.91 v 1.32 xG. Espanyol defended deep and let them have the ball (strict PPDA 19.9, league median 14.7). Biggest departure from their norm: opponent build-ups that got out cleanly 25%, far below their usual 41%.

Vision AI Analyst

What they doEspanyol sat deep and let Barcelona have the ball (PPDA 19.9, league median 14.7), yet their own build-ups barely got out: only 25% escaped cleanly, against the 41% Barcelona usually allow. Barcelona won this match without the ball as much as with it.

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How to deal with itA deep block took space away from Barcelona, but it only works if you can still get out: Espanyol escaped just 25% of the time. Pair a deep block with an early long ball, the route the press is weakest against.

Vision AI Analyst

What they doThe four defeats came against Real Sociedad, Girona, Alavés and Valencia, and in two of them (Real Sociedad, Girona) Barcelona still created the better chances. Each match is read against Barcelona's own norm, so the report shows what was different that day.

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How to deal with it2 points

1. Each match is read against Barcelona's own norm. Open the four defeats (Real Sociedad, Girona, Alavés, Valencia) in the full report to see what those opponents did differently, and copy it.
2. They won against Athletic Club while creating less xG (0.36 to 0.74): the least convincing win, so open it to see where they were stretched.

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