Each line is generated from a finding that cleared its evidence bar; nothing here is a generic coaching point. The grey line says what it rests on; the button opens the sequences.
In your own build-up area, play on one or two touches: don't try to dribble past their press, and keep first touches clean.
37% of their high regains come straight after the opponent tries to dribble past someone or takes a bad touch (league median 26%); only 29% come from forward passes.
Their most dangerous route: Anthony Gordon getting into the box with a carry from the centre. Double up on him there and show him away from goal.
27 times in the window, 67% end in a shot vs 44% for their other routes.
Avoid conceding corners; mark Rodri first.
31% of their corners end in a shot; first contacts: Rodri (7), Lamine Yamal (6), Andreas Christensen (3).
Where each player takes the ball in each phase of their possession, and who passes to whom. Event data has no off-ball positions, so this is the shape of their touches — the standard event-data proxy. A phase is defined by where the ball is, so the dots sit inside that phase's third (shaded): read the order and the width, not the depth of each line. Barcelona attack left to right.
attacking → · shaded = the build-up zone
493 build-up phases. Dot = the median spot of a player's touches in this phase; size = share of touches; lines = consecutive touches between two players.
attacking → · shaded = the progression zone
911 progression phases. Dot = the median spot of a player's touches in this phase; size = share of touches; lines = consecutive touches between two players.
attacking → · shaded = the final third zone
688 final third phases. Dot = the median spot of a player's touches in this phase; size = share of touches; lines = consecutive touches between two players.
Tackles, interceptions, recoveries, blocks, challenges and fouls in the opponent's final 40%.
244 in the window. The press on a build-up = the first two rows: 37 (3.7 a match).
| source | times | share | per match | shot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| press: settled build-up taken off them | 36 | 15% | 3.6 | 8% | |
| press: their restart forced into an error before they settled | 1 | 0% | 0.1 | 100% | |
| counter-press: won straight back after losing it | 28 | 11% | 2.8 | 25% | |
| second ball: the opponent touched it but never controlled it | 179 | 73% | 17.9 | 30% | |
| ↳ rebound after their own shot (saved or blocked) | 33 | 14% | 3.3 | 42% | |
| ↳ their cross / ball into the box, cleared | 49 | 20% | 4.9 | 31% | |
| ↳ their long ball, only headed or touched away | 8 | 3% | 0.8 | 25% | |
| ↳ after their own throw-in / set piece | 19 | 8% | 1.9 | 16% | |
| ↳ loose ball in their combination play (pass blocked or tackled) | 70 | 29% | 7.0 | 29% |
| opponent was | share | league | rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| dribbling or a loose touch | 37% | 26% | 3 / 20 | |
| passing forward | 29% | 25% | 5 / 20 | |
| passing to a full-back | 17% | 16% | 10 / 20 | |
| going long | 8% | 12% | 15 / 20 | |
| passing sideways | 3% | 6% | 19 / 20 | |
| passing back | 0% | 0% | 9 / 20 | |
| passing to the keeper | 0% | 2% | 13 / 20 | |
| a loose ball | 0% | 0% | 1 / 20 | |
| taking a throw-in | 0% | 2% | 12 / 20 |
The opponents who went long most (43% of build-ups) got out 39% of the time; those who mostly played short (23% long) got out 38%. That is a lean, not proven at 20 matches (p=0.8897).
Best escapes: Athletic Club 50%; Getafe 50%; Real Madrid 50%. One dot per match; hover for the opponent.
Most often started by Pedri (18), Xavi Espart (13), Lamine Yamal (13), Rodri (11).
| lost in | losses | won back within 5s | led to a shot |
|---|---|---|---|
| own third | 38 | 53% | 24% |
| midfield | 158 | 36% | 4% |
| final third | 379 | 30% | 0% |
10.6 opponent attacks per match after winning the ball in open play that broke forward fast or reached the final third. Shading and % = share of the xG they produced, by the channel they used. Barcelona's goal is on the left. Central attacks carry more xG for every team, so compare with Barcelona's own attacking xG in the same kind of channel (centre, or the average flank): right 41% conceded vs 36% own, centre 36% conceded vs 28% own, left 23% conceded vs 36% own.
Every real turnover, named by the situation it came from. "Fast" = the side with the ball reached the final third within 10 seconds. Only real turnovers appear here: for everything the press wins high, including restarts it forced into an error, see "Every ball won in the opponent’s third" in the press section.
| type | times | share | fast | shot | xG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won high from a settled build-up (press) | 37 | 6%lg 5% | 27% | 11%lg 12% | 0.3 | |
| Won after their long possession (10+ passes) | 22 | 3%lg 12% | 23% | 5%lg 3% | 0.1 | |
| Won straight back after losing it (counter-press) | 109 | 16%lg 11% | 50% | 17%lg 8% | 1.8 | |
| Won by stopping their counter | 22 | 3%lg 4% | 14% | 0%lg 4% | 0.0 | |
| Won in midfield | 226 | 34%lg 24% | 34% | 9%lg 7% | 2.0 | |
| Won deep in own third | 219 | 33%lg 39% | 24% | 10%lg 3% | 3.7 | |
| Won from their set piece | 27 | 4%lg 5% | 22% | 7%lg 3% | 0.2 |
| type | times | share | opponent fast | shot against | xG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lost in own build-up under pressure | 30 | 4%lg 5% | 53% | 17%lg 12% | 1.0 | |
| Lost after own long possession (10+ passes) | 173 | 25%lg 11% | 9% | 3%lg 4% | 0.6 | |
| Lost straight after winning it | 60 | 9%lg 12% | 20% | 8%lg 9% | 0.4 | |
| Lost during own counter | 21 | 3%lg 4% | 0% | 0%lg 3% | 0.0 | |
| Lost in midfield | 116 | 17%lg 25% | 24% | 8%lg 6% | 1.3 | |
| Lost in the final third (attack broke down) | 223 | 33%lg 38% | 11% | 0%lg 3% | 0.0 | |
| Lost from own set piece | 62 | 9%lg 5% | 10% | 5%lg 4% | 0.2 |
Every controlled possession is typed by how it was played, and every real turnover (a possession that was established and then lost) by what the losing side was doing, how it lost the ball and what the winner did next. "Settled" = sustained or worked possessions; "unsettled" = short, second-ball, counter and direct possessions.
| type | times | share | ended in a shot | avg passes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sustained circulation (10+ passes) | 230 | 26%lg 13% | 15%lg 12% | 15.3 | |
| worked possession (4-9 passes) | 278 | 32%lg 27% | 15%lg 10% | 6.3 | |
| direct attack | 54 | 6%lg 13% | 13%lg 2% | 1.9 | |
| short possession (0-3 passes) | 122 | 14%lg 23% | 8% | 1.7 |
| the side losing it was in… | times | fast attack | secured | lost straight back | can’t keep it | shot | xG | how it was lost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sustained circulation (10+ passes) | 174 | 10% | 12% | 17% | 52% | 3% | 0.6 | pass cut out 113, bad touch 24 | |
| worked possession (4-9 passes) | 207 | 15% | 19% | 11% | 43% | 3% | 1.0 | pass cut out 126, bad touch 25 | |
| direct attack | 34 | 18% | 32% | 12% | 32% | 3% | 0.0 | long ball lost 16, pass cut out 15 | |
| short possession (0-3 passes) | 91 | 24% | 13% | 4% | 55% | 11% | 1.2 | pass cut out 48, bad touch 15 | |
| second-ball possession | 84 | 21% | 8% | 14% | 54% | 1% | 0.5 | pass cut out 38, bad touch 15 | |
| counter / fast transition | 33 | 6% | 18% | 15% | 45% | 0% | 0.0 | pass cut out 17, bad touch 7 | |
| set piece | 62 | 10% | 3% | 8% | 61% | 5% | 0.2 | pass cut out 43, long ball lost 8 |
| mechanism | times | share | led to a shot against | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| pass cut out | 400 | 58%lg 48% | 3% | |
| bad touch | 92 | 13%lg 14% | 2% | |
| long ball lost | 80 | 12%lg 23% | 1% | |
| failed dribble | 57 | 8%lg 7% | 7% | |
| tackled / dispossessed | 46 | 7%lg 6% | 9% |
| the opponent was in… | times | fast attack | secured | lost straight back | can’t keep it | shot | xG | how it was lost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sustained circulation (10+ passes) | 24 | 21% | 4% | 8% | 58% | 4% | 0.1 | pass cut out 13, long ball lost 6 | |
| worked possession (4-9 passes) | 145 | 32% | 14% | 6% | 46% | 10% | 2.0 | pass cut out 80, long ball lost 43 | |
| direct attack | 131 | 32% | 14% | 6% | 41% | 7% | 0.9 | long ball lost 63, pass cut out 45 | |
| short possession (0-3 passes) | 191 | 34% | 10% | 6% | 45% | 13% | 2.3 | pass cut out 77, long ball lost 38 | |
| second-ball possession | 110 | 35% | 13% | 4% | 46% | 15% | 2.5 | pass cut out 51, long ball lost 25 | |
| counter / fast transition | 34 | 15% | 12% | 6% | 62% | 6% | 0.1 | pass cut out 17, failed dribble 6 | |
| set piece | 27 | 22% | 30% | 7% | 41% | 7% | 0.2 | pass cut out 16, bad touch 5 |
Fast attack = their final third or box reached within 10s. Secured = kept 10s+ or 4+ passes. Lost straight back = controlled, then lost within 5s. Can’t keep it = won the ball but never got it under control (cleared it, headed it away, blocked it or lost it at once).
Each phase split into the situations it is made of, every row with its league median and clips. Shots are their own category: a possession that ends in a shot has finished, it has not lost the ball.
| type | times | share | got out | reached the box | lost in build-up | shot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| from the keeper / goal kick, played out short | 61 | 24%lg 18% | 89% | 34% | 5% | 16% | |
| from the keeper / goal kick, stuck / recycled | 21 | 8% | 0% | 10% | 24% | 5% | |
| from the back line, played out short | 28 | 11%lg 10% | 86% | 29% | 14% | 11% | |
| from the back line, went long (bypass) | 7 | 3%lg 6% | 14% | 14% | 43% | 14% | |
| from the back line, stuck / recycled | 11 | 4% | 0% | 9% | 27% | 9% | |
| from a throw-in, played out short | 35 | 14%lg 5% | 91% | 31% | 9% | 14% | |
| from a throw-in, stuck / recycled | 5 | 2% | 0% | 0% | 60% | 0% | |
| straight after winning it, played out short | 44 | 17%lg 16% | 86% | 45% | 14% | 23% | |
| straight after winning it, went long (bypass) | 14 | 6%lg 10% | 50% | 7% | 43% | 7% | |
| straight after winning it, stuck / recycled | 21 | 8% | 0% | 10% | 52% | 10% |
| outcome | times | share | opponent shot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| won it high | 19 | 10%lg 9% | 0% | |
| forced long, then won it back | 49 | 25%lg 22% | 0% | |
| forced long, they kept it | 17 | 9%lg 5% | 12% | |
| they played through short | 51 | 26%lg 37% | 4% | |
| kept them stuck (recycled back) | 62 | 31%lg 26% | 0% |
Won high = the ball won in the opponent's own third. Forced long = the opponent left its third with a long ball (then either lost it in that possession, or kept it).
| created by | shots | share of open play | xG | xG per shot | goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cross | 5 | 3%lg 9% | 0.9 | 0.18lg 0.11 | 1 | |
| cutback | 15 | 9%lg 7% | 1.6 | 0.11lg 0.10 | 4 | |
| through ball | 9 | 6%lg 4% | 2.2 | 0.24lg 0.25 | 4 | |
| short pass / combination | 101 | 64%lg 54% | 10.0 | 0.10lg 0.08 | 18 | |
| long ball | 7 | 4%lg 5% | 0.7 | 0.10lg 0.07 | 0 | |
| individual (dribble / self-made) | 9 | 6%lg 12% | 1.8 | 0.20lg 0.08 | 3 | |
| rebound / second ball | 13 | 8%lg 9% | 1.6 | 0.13lg 0.08 | 0 | |
| corner (set piece) | 24 | – | 3.0 | 0.13 | 3 | |
| free kick (indirect) (set piece) | 11 | – | 1.6 | 0.14 | 1 | |
| direct free kick (set piece) | 10 | – | 0.3 | 0.03 | 0 | |
| penalty (set piece) | 5 | – | 4.0 | 0.79 | 4 |
| created by | shots | share | xG | xG per shot | goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cross | 6 | 11%lg 9% | 0.6 | 0.09 | 0 | |
| cutback | 2 | 4%lg 7% | 0.3 | 0.16 | 1 | |
| through ball | 2 | 4%lg 4% | 0.6 | 0.31 | 1 | |
| short pass / combination | 28 | 51%lg 55% | 2.6 | 0.09 | 3 | |
| long ball | 1 | 2%lg 6% | 0.1 | 0.13 | 0 | |
| individual (dribble / self-made) | 10 | 18%lg 10% | 2.6 | 0.26 | 2 | |
| rebound / second ball | 6 | 11%lg 9% | 1.0 | 0.17 | 2 | |
| corner (set piece) | 8 | – | 0.7 | 0.08 | 2 | |
| free kick (indirect) (set piece) | 4 | – | 0.2 | 0.06 | 0 | |
| direct free kick (set piece) | 1 | – | 0.0 | 0.02 | 0 | |
| throw-in (set piece) | 3 | – | 0.2 | 0.05 | 0 |
| ending | shots | share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| goal | 34 | 17%lg 9% | |
| keeper held it | 17 | 8%lg 11% | |
| keeper parried it | 26 | 13%lg 13% | |
| blocked | 48 | 24%lg 25% | |
| off target | 75 | 37%lg 40% | |
| hit the woodwork | 4 | 2% |
Penalties excluded. A "save" by an outfield player is a block.
After their keeper held a shot (12), median release 9s; league share turned into a fast attack 14%:
| their keeper held it, then… | times | share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| keeper released fast -> fast attack | 3 | 25% | |
| keeper released quickly, no fast attack | 1 | 8% | |
| keeper slowed the game | 8 | 67% |
After their own shot was held by the opponent keeper (17); league share broken against fast 17%:
| the opponent keeper held it, then… | times | share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| keeper released fast -> fast attack | 4 | 24% | |
| keeper released quickly, no fast attack | 5 | 29% | |
| keeper slowed the game | 8 | 47% |
Fast = the keeper's side reached its final third within 15s of the save. Quick = first pass within 6s.
The other half of each phase above. Their own phases break down when they lose the ball (real turnovers only); their press and block break down when the opponent gets through. Each card: how often, how, where, who is involved, and what it costs them.
89 balls lost in 493 build-up phases (18%)
giveaways per 10 build-up phases: 1.5/10 · league 2.7/10
What it costs: 36% turned into a fast attack · 52% the opponent can’t keep · 11% led to a shot · 1.3 xG
254 balls lost in 911 middle-third phases (28%)
giveaways per 10 middle-third phases: 2.4/10 · league 2.8/10
What it costs: 19% turned into a fast attack · 39% the opponent can’t keep · 6% led to a shot · 1.9 xG
320 balls lost in 688 final-third phases (47%)
deliveries into the box that fail to arrive: 48% · league 57%
What it costs: 5% turned into a fast attack · 57% the opponent can’t keep · 1% led to a shot · 0.1 xG
67 deliveries into the box did not arrive
33 of 62 counter-attacks lost (53%)
attacking transitions that produce a shot: 25% · league 17%
What it costs: 6% turned into a fast attack · 45% the opponent can’t keep · 0% led to a shot · 0.0 xG
62 counters: 23 ended in a shot, 33 were lost, 6 slowed down or went out
63 of 169 opponent build-ups got out (37%)
opponent build-ups that get out cleanly: 37% · league 50%
What it costs: 38% reached the final third · 6% led to a shot · 0.2 xG
Sides are their own: "down the left" = down their left.
77 box entries in 326 opponent final-third phases (24%)
opponent final-third phases that create: 51% · league 48%
What it costs: 38% led to a shot · 3.9 xG
Sides are their own.
62 set pieces lost in open play
What it costs: 10% turned into a fast attack · 61% the opponent can’t keep · 5% led to a shot · 0.2 xG
Their corners and free kicks that were lost in open play, and what the opponent did next.
Takers: Dani Olmo (21), Raphinha (20), Fermín López (14)
First contact in the box: Rodri (7), Lamine Yamal (6), Andreas Christensen (3), Eric García (2), Pedri (2)
What each player does in the phases, counted over the window. Only lines that clear a minimum count are shown.
The comparison behind the report: each behaviour as a rate per opportunity, ranked among the 20 La Liga clubs' full seasons, with how many of the 10 matches sat on the same side of the league median. "Style" is never a verdict.
| behaviour | Barcelona | league median | rank | matches | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style | triangle per 100 progression phases | 11.9/100 | 3.5/100 | 1 / 20 | 8/10 | |
| style | build-ups from a throw-in played out short | 14% | 5% | 1 / 20 | 10/10 | |
| strength | build-ups whose possession ended in a shot | 16% | 6% | 1 / 20 | 9/10 | |
| strength | balls won deep in the own third that produced a shot | 10% | 3% | 1 / 20 | 10/10 | |
| strength | xG from own corners / free kicks | 0.41 xG | 0.15 xG | 1 / 20 | 8/10 | |
| style | turnovers lost from an own set piece | 9% | 5% | 1 / 20 | 9/10 | |
| strength | opponent middle-third phases that progressed | 51% | 69% | 20 / 20 | 10/10 | |
| style | final-third entries with a through ball | 5% | 1% | 1 / 20 | 8/10 | |
| strength | build-ups that carried on into the next third under control | 69% | 48% | 1 / 20 | 9/10 | |
| strength | turnovers won that produced a shot | 10% | 5% | 1 / 20 | 9/10 | |
| style | pass rotation per 100 progression phases | 8.9/100 | 3.5/100 | 1 / 20 | 9/10 | |
| style | turnovers lost in midfield | 17% | 25% | 20 / 20 | 9/10 | |
| strength | own corners / free kicks that produced a shot | 21% | 13% | 1 / 20 | 9/10 | |
| style | turnovers lost after a long own possession | 25% | 11% | 1 / 20 | 10/10 | |
| style | turnovers won straight back (counter-press) | 16% | 11% | 1 / 20 | 9/10 | |
| strength | non-penalty xG per final-third sequence | 0.04 xG | 0.02 xG | 1 / 20 | 8/10 | |
| style | turnovers won in midfield | 34% | 24% | 1 / 20 | 10/10 | |
| style | controlled possessions that are sustained circulation (10+ passes) | 26% | 13% | 1 / 20 | 10/10 |
| phase | route | times | shot | their average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final third | W gets it into the box with a carry from the centre | 27 | 67% | 44% |
| split | behaviour | a | b | p | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| against the more aggressive pressers vs the deeper / passive sides | ball given away during the middle-third phase | 26.0/match | 18.2/match | 0.0076 | |
| against the more aggressive pressers vs the deeper / passive sides | build-up exits down the right | 57% | 40% | 0.0276 | |
| against the more aggressive pressers vs the deeper / passive sides | build-ups that carried on into the next third under control | 62% | 76% | 0.0328 | |
| when trailing vs when level | final-third phases that created (box entry or key pass) | 67% | 47% | 0.0347 | |
| second half vs first half | final-third entries down the left | 37% | 47% | 0.0422 |
| date | opponent | result | npxG | opponent press | what happened |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-23 | at Elche | W 5-0 | 1.8–0.7 | mid-intensity press | Won 5-0, chances 1.76 v 0.65 xG. Elche pressed at roughly league-average intensity (strict PPDA 16.9, league median 14.6). Biggest departure from their norm: chance-creation phases that produced a shot 56%, far above their usual 40%. |
| 2026-08-27 | vs Athletic Club | W 2-0 | 3.1–0.3 | sat deep / passive | Won 2-0, chances 3.12 v 0.31 xG. Athletic Club defended deep and let them have the ball (strict PPDA 31.5, league median 14.6) and went long on 50% of their own build-ups. Biggest departure from their norm: final-third entries by carrying it in 27%, far above their usual 16%. |
| 2026-08-31 | vs Rayo Vallecano | W 5-2 | 2.3–1.0 | mid-intensity press | Won 5-2, chances 2.26 v 1.04 xG. Rayo Vallecano pressed at roughly league-average intensity (strict PPDA 13.9, league median 14.6). Biggest departure from their norm: build-ups that carried on into the next third under control 45%, far below their usual 70%. |
| 2026-09-06 | at Valencia | W 5-0 | 3.7–0.5 | sat deep / passive | Won 5-0, chances 3.70 v 0.47 xG. Valencia defended deep and let them have the ball (strict PPDA 38.1, league median 14.6). Biggest departure from their norm: giveaways regained within 5s (counter-press) 43%, far above their usual 33%. |
| 2026-09-13 | at Levante | W 4-2 | 1.1–1.9 | sat deep / passive | Won 4-2 on fewer chances (1.07 v 1.88 xG). Levante defended deep and let them have the ball (strict PPDA 25.0, league median 14.6). Biggest departure from their norm: giveaways that led to an opponent shot within 15s 8%, far above their usual 3%. |
| 2026-09-16 | vs Racing Santander | W 7-2 | 3.5–1.7 | sat deep / passive | Won 7-2, chances 3.50 v 1.69 xG. Racing Santander defended deep and let them have the ball (strict PPDA 28.4, league median 14.6). Biggest departure from their norm: build-up exits down the left 67%, far above their usual 38%. |
| 2026-09-19 | at Sevilla | W 3-1 | 2.8–0.5 | sat deep / passive | Won 3-1, chances 2.78 v 0.50 xG. Sevilla defended deep and let them have the ball (strict PPDA 29.0, league median 14.6). Biggest departure from their norm: ball given away during build-up 15.0/match, far above their usual 7.2/match. |
| 2026-10-10 | vs Getafe | W 3-0 | 2.0–0.2 | sat deep / passive | Won 3-0, chances 1.97 v 0.19 xG. Getafe defended deep and let them have the ball (strict PPDA 27.5, league median 14.6) and went long on 90% of their own build-ups. Biggest departure from their norm: box entries with a cross 5%, far above their usual 1%. |
| 2026-10-17 | at Real Betis | W 5-2 | 2.1–1.0 | sat deep / passive | Won 5-2, chances 2.12 v 1.03 xG. Real Betis defended deep and let them have the ball (strict PPDA 33.1, league median 14.6) and went long on 54% of their own build-ups. Biggest departure from their norm: build-up exits down the right 6%, far below their usual 47%. |
| 2026-10-25 | vs Real Madrid | L 1-2 | 1.5–1.1 | mid-intensity press | Lost 1-2 and the chances agreed (1.48 v 1.13 xG). Real Madrid pressed at roughly league-average intensity (strict PPDA 17.8, league median 14.6). Biggest departure from their norm: build-up exits down the right 75%, far above their usual 47%. |