5 Barcelona Weaknesses Other Teams Can Expose This Season

The Luis Enrique era has officially started at Barcelona and fans have a lot to be excited about. However, like any club, Barcelona are not without their weaknesses. Integral to a team's success is overcoming those weaknesses, which is exactly what Barcelona will be looking to do.

In this article, we will discuss five major weaknesses of Barcelona that opponents will be looking to exploit. The Catalans' system is already in place and Barcelona’s opponents will be sure to have their game plans ready. 

As always, feel free to get involved in the discussion in the comments section below. Give us your opinion on what you believe is the most pressing weakness that Barcelona needs to address.

Questionable Wing Play

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There are not many true wingers in the Barcelona squad. Couple that fact with the attacking minds of Dani Alves and Jordi Alba and you have a recipe for weakness out wide.

Though Barcelona love to use spacing, it can be a problem area that opponents could look to exploit. If Barcelona run into an attacking side that loves to play on the flanks, it could result in dropped points.

While the likes of Neymar and Pedro have shown that they are willing to track back, it will take a team effort to ensure that the wings are defended properly.

The Ongoing Counter-Attack Problem

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

Barcelona’s biggest weakness has been and will continue to be facing counter-attacks. Their desire to keep possession and press high can often lead to dangerous turnovers and is something opponents are always looking to use to their advantage.

With the addition of Jeremy Mathieu, Barcelona has new-found speed in defense. Pace at the back will likely help close down counter-attacks, but it will take more than one man to slow down aggressive opponents.

As has been the case over the last few years, Barcelona’s success will come down to how well they play against the counter-attack. Look for every opponent to try to use this against the Catalans—only time will tell how much they will struggle against it this season.

The Aging Xavi

Israel L. Murillo/Associated Press

There is no doubt that Xavi is one of the greatest players to ever wear the Barcelona shirt. His creativity and ability to orchestrate the midfield has brought the club immense success, but those days are now in the rear-view mirror.

With Xavi aging, someone else must be ready to take over as the creative mind in the middle of the pitch. Players like Rafinha and Ivan Rakitic have shown signs of creativity, but they are not on the same level as Xavi.

Additionally, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi are capable of pulling the strings, but they are different types of players to the aging maestro. 

With Xavi playing less minutes this season, opponents may look to sit back in defense. If Barcelona are unable to pass through the defense, scoring goals may be more difficult.

Set-Piece Demons

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Looking again at the Barcelona defense, there has been an ongoing trend of frailty at set pieces. The Catalans struggle to handle corners and free kicks, which will likely not be changing right now.

In their recent matches, it appears as though Enrique has attempted to address aerial defending but Barcelona have yet to be truly tested. The addition of Thomas Vermaelen, who is a very capable set-piece defender, will help but is not an instant fix.

Barcelona’s ongoing dilemma with set-pieces probably won't be resolved in the near future. Opponents will continue to look to take their chances in the air.

Incorporating New Faces and Fresh Ideas

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Barcelona did not waste time in bringing in several new players this summer, and with the arrival of Luis Enrique, the club will likely be tweaking their style of play. With so many changes, there is sure to be growing pains and a learning curve.

Last season, we saw Neymar struggle to find his footing in the Barcelona system, which could ring true for some of the new additions. Not only have Barcelona added two new 'keepers, altering the flow of the defense, but attack-minded players such as Luis Suarez and Rakitic will have to learn how to mesh with Messi and Co.

Finding the right fit is necessary for success. Barcelona may have added several top talents, but they still have to learn how to play together. As the Catalans work to find their new identity in this early season, opponents will be using that against them.

Fans should be excited about all these new changes, but they need to realize there will a period of adjustment.

Will the Barcelona defense approve this year? Can the new faces hit the ground running? Leave your thoughts and comments below.