FC Barcelona

Real Madrid

Spain

World Football

Results

Opinion

Barcelona's vulnerability away from Camp Nou exposed

Valverde's side haven't travelled well since the Anfield debacle

Juan Manuel Díaz

Marc-Andre ter Stegen's fine display earned Barcelona a 0-0 draw at Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. However the German being needed so much exposes the fragility of Ernesto Valverde's team on the road.

A defeat and two draws this season - losing 1-0 at Athletic, tying 2-2 at Osasuna and then this latest result. 

The good news was a clean sheet, the first of the season, with Barca shipping seven in five games. 

Luis Suarez is not yet completely up to speed, neither of course is Lionel Messi, while Ousmane Dembele is still injured. Now Jordi Alba is out injured too and Junio Firpo will play.

Barcelona have shown this defensive fragility before too, so it can't all be written off by a lack of match practise so far. They collapsed at PSG, Juve in 2016-17, Roma in 2017-18, and Liverpool in 2018-19.

 

After the debacle at Anfield, Barca drew 2-2 at Eibar and lost the Copa final 2-1 against Valencia. They've gone seven games without winning on the road including and since the Liverpool game.