La Liga giants Barcelona have on Wednesday seen one major call on the transfer market over the summer come back to haunt them once again.
This comes after the absence of a necessary leader in Hansi Flick’s backline was laid bare against Club Brugge.
Barcelona of course made the trip to Belgium this evening, to lock horns with Brugge in a Champions League clash.
Late in proceedings at Jan Breydel Stadium, however, the Blaugrana findthemselves staring down the barrel of a 3-2 defeat.
And the chief reason as to why is a complete lack of organisation and tactical nous at the back.
Hansi Flick will again be singled out for deserved blame in the game’s aftermath, with his insistence on utilising a high line having cost Barca dear thus far.
But the German’s defenders have not exactly excelled in their efforts to put his game plan into action, either.
With Ronald Araújo again struggling in his role as defensive leader, the importance of Iñigo Martínez has in turn been laid bare for all to see.
Deco and co. allowed the Spanish international to depart on a free transfer over the summer, as a gesture of good will to open the door for Iñigo to join Al-Nassr.
And to say that his absence is being felt would be putting it lightly…
Should a new organiser on and off the ball alike not establish themselves over the weeks and months ahead, the decision to allow Iñigo to depart could prove a decisive factor in a hugely underwhelming campaign all told for Barcelona…
*Update* – The Blaugrana have since levelled things up once more at 3-3.
Conor Laird – GSFN
