Can Barca compete with Germany's style?

Tika Taka is great. It's extremely clinical and an excellent, unrepeatable by-product of La Masia training. However, not for a second did I think it was possible for Barca or Madrid to beat Bayern and Borussia. Why?

Barca are supreme, but they were essentially up against Cristiano Ronaldo times eleven. Ronaldo's quality cannot be disputed in the slightest, but what I've noticed is that these two particular German teams place an emphasis on speed, strength and agility. They overrun Barca's smooth play, tika taka passing and very clinical possession tactics with athleticism. This is, obviously, what Cristiano does, only as a one-man show for Madrid (meaning, he is the only player in Madrid who possesses this playing style). Barca can't handle him and it's a nightmare for them. Bayern essentially overrun Barca. Barca, for all their greatness as one of the greatest sides in history, struggle to contain Ronaldo. Hence, a team of players who possess similar qualities is a situation they're unprepared for.

I don't see how Barca can overcome this style of play, unless they themselves finally changed tactics from tika taka. It has worked for so long, but to see them continue their great work, they need to change. The great teams know how to adapt to change, and I don't think it is out of Messi, Iniesta or Xavi's depth to do this. Quite the opposite, in fact. If they juggle their team and focus on a counter attack style, with fitter and more athletic players, they'll continue to destroy competition.

I just hope they don't fall into the mindset that what has worked for the past 5 years, will work for the next 5 years, especially when there is so much life left in Messi.

wen played right they can...currently they are mediocre

Hi Billy,

Cheers for the reply. I hope Pep doesn't try to take Barca players away to Bayern. I can't imagine Messi leaving, of course, but who knows about some of the others. I think Barca are an incredible side, it'd be good to see you guys get rid of Pique. He gets schooled too often, especially by Ronaldo. Although I don't support Barca, I'm really hoping somehow you guys turn it around. I don't want to see the fairytale end.

I was a little bit bored to give an elaborate reply before.
Thin is when the system was initially deployed everything was executed to perfection.
Solid defense with Pique, Puyol, Abidal, amazing mids and and attacking trio where all 3 players contributed.
Additionally the team had the energy to constantly press and not give opponents an inch.

Now all these elements are broken (except the world class midfield maybe). That doesn’t mean the system is wrong, it’s just Barca doesn’t have the capacity to play it as they should

Barca system is still one of the best if not the best system in the world, they don't have to change it. Barca on their day can beat any other team that played the way Bayern did, Bayern defeating barca wasn't just about style but had a lot to do with the type of players Bayern possess, compare to Barca's.

They have 2 very huge fast intimidating powerfull black CB who can actually defend and also play from the back, that alone is enough to suffocate any attack. As as if that isn't enough they have 2 bulls in human shape, very physically indimidating holding midfielders, not only are these player just physically strong but they are also very good with the ball, they play as a team, can play the ball very well, they can defend and attack and hold the ball very well, good team spirit , good cover, name it and they have it.


Their attack is mavelous, starting from Alaba he his young but very strng and fast, knowns when to attack and when to defend, can pass and thesame applies to Lahm and Ribery and Robben, then they have Muller the Magic guy, I don't know to discribe his strenght but he his amazing, their only weakness was Gomez, Gomez is good but he isn't as complete as other Bayern players.


Bayern are amazing, from players to style, tacticaly, technicaly, balance in the team, the way they can easily switch from attack to defense or from deence to attack, they are very vesatile it was the combination of everything that destroyed Barcelona, not just the style, if Milan used that style they wouldn't win against Barcelona. example of this is how Zapata said they will used the style Bayern used against Juventus to defeat Juventus in their last match, but as we can see not everyone can implement that style.


Their bench is amazing, whenever they want to hold on to a lead, with the posibility of scoring more goals, they simply bring in Gustavo another bull to completely knock the midfield and soffucate the opponent and rely on they lightening counter attack, they can even afford to take off one of their tired wingers and bring on another very similar but fresh and extremely fast winget to cause more trouble(Shaqiri), they can sub a CF and bring on another Fresh CF that is also very strong(Pizarro)

Also I predicted that Barcelona might draw the second leg to Bayern, however I just remember Mandzukic will be coming back from suspension, oh my God Barcelone will play a better Bayern with Mandzukic, starting to feel bayern will beat them again


They are amazing.

billy_gr wrote:I was a little bit bored to give an elaborate reply before.
Thin is when the system was initially deployed everything was executed to perfection.
Solid defense with Pique, Puyol, Abidal, amazing mids and and attacking trio where all 3 players contributed.
Additionally the team had the energy to constantly press and not give opponents an inch.

Now all these elements are broken (except the world class midfield maybe). That doesn’t mean the system is wrong, it’s just Barca doesn’t have the capacity to play it as they should

Yes, this.


Back in the days, Barca had, Toure, Eto, Abidal and Poyul, these guys could have challenge Bayern physically, they need to add more physical players to their teamand refine their players a little bit, their system took years to build and with the right players it still remain the best system out there.

But if I may add I must admit that it's very boring, when the start passing the ball backward all the time, if they can press a little bit more rather than build from the back all the time and if they could try taking outside shoots, I think that's all they need to add to their style.

boring or not, it brought them titles. and Barca of 09 or Barca of 11 was hardly a boring team

it wasn't so boring with Eto, Ronaldinho, Deco and Henry, they used to attack a lot but now they keep passing backward. It was beauty watching them with Eto and Ronaldinho but they got addicted to the whole possession thing and forgot a few things, I believe with this defeat they will re-address a few things.

Also I think they should start using Thaigo more often.

Mack10 wrote:it wasn't so boring with Eto, Ronaldinho, Deco and Henry, they used to attack a lot but now they keep passing backward. It was beauty watching them with Eto and Ronaldinho but they got addicted to the whole possession thing and forgot a few things, I believe with this defeat they will re-address a few things.

Also I think they should start using Thaigo more often.

Clearly shows you don't watch Barca very often because if you can not use one word to describe us this season it's "boring"

Also the premise of this thread is ridiculous. Anyone wanna wager a guess as to what was the result the last time Bayern faced Barca at bcn?

Spoiler:

Clearly it's not the "German style" that Barca lost to but the poor execution of the basic as billy already stated, and of course facing a great team with a flawless execution themselves.

Well for me the ideal style is great for Barca which brought so much success, but this thing is if we can no longer carry out this strat effectively, than we need to find the new injections that can lead us back to that level or adjust our system to become a bit balance or flexible.

I don't think the scoreline reflects some freak failure by Barca to prepare adequately. As evidenced against Cristiano, Barca can't compete with pure athleticism. Hence they fall to Ronaldo constantly. Look what Bayern did, and look at their player characteristics.

Barca needs to evolve their game. That's not disrespectful, and it can't be argued against. I guarantee right now at Camp Nou, the coaches and sports analysts are meeting about it. They've recently stated they are going to bolster the squad- watch who they buy. They won't buy any more waif little guys who are light on their feet. They're going to start bringing faster, stronger players into their game.

A la Eto, whose sale was the worst transfer I've seen. Ibra should've been kept but they kept riding their train as long as they could. If you brought Ibra, Eto, Bale into the team with Messi and Fabregas, it'd be great. Better defenders are also needed.

Barca will continue their legacy, but it will be how they adapt to change that will determine how well.

See: Euro 2008

barca 2011 wrote:See: Euro 2008

That's 5 years past now. You have to look at the present player material to consider how things would play out today.

its same bayern than lost to barca 4-0. its same ronaldo that was flopping against this style until last season. what changed last season? barca's defense. no puyol, no abidal and declined pique. I can show you at least 20 teams that have better defense than Barca atm

before scoring against Barca was a huge achievement. now scoring against them is normal. Even if you dont score against them its abnormal, if barca dont concede a goal people think something gone wrong

Niyameddin wrote:its same bayern than lost to barca 4-0.

Not quite...

Bayern 2009:
Butt - Oddo, Demichelis, Breno, Lell - van Bommel - Schweinsteiger, Zé Roberto - Hamit Altintop, Ribery - Toni
Coach: Jürgen Klinsmann

Bayern 2013:
Neuer - Lahm, Boateng, Dante, Alaba - Javi Martinez, Schweinsteiger - Robben, T. Müller, Ribery - Gomez
Coach: Jupp Heynckes

Spot the difference?

Yes they can. Barca aren't even what they were under Pep, let alone superior to what they were under Pep. They need to adjust their tactics, improve the the team overall and not be one dimensional and it could work.

One defeat doesn't mean an entire style is over.