UEFA Champions League: Why Pep Guardiola's Barcelona Need a Plan B

"I pass and I move, I help you, I look for you, I stop, I raise my head, I look and, above all, I open up the pitch...The one who has the ball, is the master of the game...That's the school of Joan Vila, of Albert Benaiges, of Johan Cryuff, of Pep Guardiola" - Xavi Hernandez

Come the Champions League quarterfinals against Shakhtar Donetsk one thing is guaranteed, Barcelona's biblical style of play—but what is not guaranteed is a victory!  

Barcelona is one of the most attractive sides in this year's Champions League, and perhaps the most entertaining side for a good four years now—the only question is, how long can Barcelona sustain this ascendancy?

A clever tactician is bound to strategically tackle that—perhaps Barcelona's ouster at the hand's of Jose Mourinho last season was a perfect example. If you know what's coming at you, you can prepare for it. 

Football pundits, gurus, all-time football greats are coming out in numbers to praise this Barca side, comparing it with the best European sides in football. But before we can really pass these bunch of players as the best ever to have embraced Europe, we have to admit that we do not have a Plan B, no back-up and no other way!  

Barcelona's strategy revolves around breaking the oppositions' resistance by a series of passing attacks, wave after wave instigating brilliant passes within the final third, trying to make the opposition make a mistake and that one mistake usually gets punished in the form of a Barcelona goal.

The philosophy being if you can keep the ball for 60-70 percent, the opposition can't hurt you.

Indeed, but.. are we defensively stable? Don't think so!   

This team's inherent weakness is its defense—not unusual when you consider the fact that Dani Alves, Pique and Abidal/Adriano all like to drift up the pitch. This leaves a huge void at the back that can easily be out-witted and out-maneuvered.

Victor Valdes, Barcelona's keeper, is highly susceptible as well. He does do a fine job protecting the net but now and again makes an error in judgement or a stupid mistake that can cost Barcelona a great deal. 

The attack comprising of Leo Messi, Pedro and Villa look for spaces to create. Deny them that and again we're in trouble. Zanetti and Cambiasso did a fine job in denying Barcelona space, just ahead of the defense—Barcelona's favored territory of developing an attack.

Shakhtar are more than capable of doing just that however—not their cup of tea, but when need arises they can be equally good defensively. 

Do not get me wrong, I'm a Barcelona fan but what baffles me is that the team does not have any other way. There needs to be a Plan B to counter against teams with a good defense, who are willing to park the bus and hit Barca on the counter.

It is a very effective tactic I reckon, considering the fact that matching Barcelona man for man in midfield is something most teams would falter at.

Barcelona have tried a Plan B before in the form of Ibrahimovic—which as we all know failed badly.

The plan was to to feed long balls to the lanky striker and hope that he'd create opportunities—a different kind of an attack. But to be be fair to the Swede, his style of play did not match that of Barcelona's and he subsequently failed.

It is important for managers to devise a Plan B well before the Plan A fails. And being a Barcelona fan, I have not seen that Plan B yet.

Fingers crossed, Barcelona would be at Wembley this June.