Page 5 - Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Barcelona: 5 Talking Points and Tactical Analysis

#1 A draw is good for Barcelona but is it good enough?

Luis Suarez

A few months ago, Barcelona unwantedly etched their names into the record books at Anfield. Despite taking a three-goal cushion to England, they let Liverpool erase the arrears and mount an improbable comeback. Alarmingly for the Blaugrana though, that represented a second capitulation in as many seasons.

Unsurprisingly, since that night in Merseyside, Valverde’s position has been under the scanner, with a special emphasis on his side’s away form.

The visitors though, didn’t arrive in Germany bubbling with confidence, especially considering they’d not won any of their away encounters in the season.

And while they gave a decent account of themselves in Dortmund, one could be forgiven to ask whether the display was befitting of a side intending to perch itself atop the European tree.

Akin to many a time recently, the La Liga side failed to impose itself on the game and started to drift away spectacularly in the second period. The attack looked toothless and too static to leave a considerable imprint on the game.

Additionally, whenever the midfield received the ball, there was a lack of offensive movements. Thus, most of the passes had to be sprayed backwards or sideways.

The goalless draw at the Signal Iduna Park also meant that Barcelona have now scored only a solitary goal in their last 4 Champions League away fixtures, with that net-bulger being a Luke Shaw own-goal.

More worryingly though, they might’ve even been on the end of an unfavourable result had Dortmund been a little more clinical in front of goal.

On paper, the Blaugrana boast of one of the finest squads across Europe. However, somehow, Valverde has failed to get the best out of his troops in clutch situations, a problem magnified by his blues on the road.

And, in light of the pastings they’ve been meted out away from home in recent seasons, a stalemate might paint a promising picture.

Yet, that surely can’t be enough for a club of Barcelona’s stature, can it?