Barca must learn to expect the unexpected in cup competitions

Important lessons to take with them from a Copa del Rey stunner 

The high line giveth, and the high line taketh away.

As good as Barcelona has been this year, one question that continues to be raised is whether the high risk tactic is doing more harm than good.

In the end, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid leave Montjuïc with the scoreline level heading into the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg.

Atléti were the better team in the first 10 minutes of the match, and then again in the last 10 minutes, scoring two goals in each of the two periods.

Photo By Irina R. Hipolito/Europa Press via Getty Images

Barcelona absolutely dominated the game for the 70 minutes in between. In fact, their silky excellence may have led to their downfall. Be humble Barcelona. This is the second time this season that the Colchoneros taught you the harsh lesson that it’s not over until it’s over.

There’s still everything to play for this season, with all trophies firmly within striking distance. But if they fall marginally short in La Liga and the Copa del Rey, Barcelona will have no one to blame but themselves.

Hansi Flick’s team is receiving praise from all over the world, from pundits, coaches, and players alike, including Diego Simeone himself. And rightly so.

Photo By Irina R. Hipolito/Europa Press via Getty Images

The fans at the Olympic stadium were certainly entertained, shouting olé until their voices were extinguished by El Cholo’s ruthless footballing logic. It doesn’t matter how much of the ball you have. It doesn’t matter if you were the better team on the day. You win big matches by making it count in the moments when the game is on the line.

Simeone doesn’t sit back when something isn’t working. If he goes down, he goes down throwing punches. More times than you’d think, however, those punches land.

Alexander Sørloth, a giant of a supersub, once again, took down Barcelona with a last minute coup de grâce.

Now, it really is crunch time for Barcelona. This will likely be the last lesson they’re given, so they need to make it count.

You can be the best team at playing football in the world, and entertain every neutral that tunes in, but it can’t come at the expense of winning. How you start games, and how you end games, is critical, especially in knockout competitions.

When they travel to the Metropolitano, they need to have the same aggressive approach that they had in the first leg, but they also need to concentrate, stay organized, and make sure to avoid unforced errors. In other words, bring some more of that Pau Cubarsí energy. The defender is as close to perfect as anyone can get.

Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images

Jules Kounde must take responsibility for two of the goals that Atletico Madrid scored. First, because of a reckless turnover that resulted in an easy counter attack, and then in the dying minutes of the game, a sloppy slip up while trying to play an unnecessary offside trap.

The last goal, however, he can share the blame with his teammates and the manager. Surely, there has to be a plan for protecting a lead late in the game that is pragmatic.

In the past weeks, just about every opponent is learning how to get behind the Barca backline, and into the wide open pasture.

Benfica will no doubt look to exploit his vulnerability as well.

Hansi Flick, three time manager of the month in La Liga, you need to talk to your team. You need to talk through scenarios, and have the right tactical approach for not only your opponents, but also in response to what the game is calling for in the moment.

Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images

Now is the time.

Don’t ignore the opportunity in front of you. Learn now, and don’t be caught by surprise again.

If you lose, let it be because a better team defeated you. Not because you beat yourself.

At least we can say we were treated, for most of the match, to the poetry of the beautiful game.

Next time, however, some prose may be the better option.

Source: barcablaugranes.com