Rayo Vallecano and Sevilla have offered a clearer idea of how to play against this Barcelona team: pressing high and refusing to sit deep. Sevilla coach Matías Almeyda explained his approach in an interview with La Razón.
“I’ve been studying Barcelona for years. Every team that has sat back and waited has lost — 98 percent of them. You have to find other ways. The teams that have made them suffer are the ones that dared to step forward,” Almeyda said.
His analysis reflects a pattern seen across recent matches. Barcelona have struggled when opponents apply sustained pressure in midfield and force turnovers high up the pitch. Rayo and Sevilla both disrupted their buildup and created scoring chances from those situations.
Both teams looked to exploit Barcelona’s high line with second man runs from midfield that are extremely difficult to track, especially for more athletic and fast players competing against the likes of Gerard Martin, Cubarsi, Pedri, and others.
Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid appear to be following a similar principle. His side has been built around winning the ball back high and doing so with speed. If Madrid can apply that same intensity against Barcelona : pressing as a unit and then using the transition speed of Vinicius, Mbappe, and Valverde, then they will have a better chance of success in this season’s first Clasico.