Former Real Madrid player Alvaro Benito warns Barcelona’s high line is a major weakness

Former Real Madrid player and Cadena SER analyst Alvaro Benito has criticised Hansi Flick’s defensive approach at Barcelona, warning that the team’s high defensive line repeatedly leaves opponents with clear opportunities to attack.

Benito’s comments followed Barcelona’s 2-1 defeat by Real Madrid in the clasico at Spotify Camp Nou. According to Spanish newspaper Sport, he said he admired Flick as a coach but believed his tactics carried significant risks against top-quality opponents with the pace and ability to exploit the space behind the defence.

“I have said for years that I like Flick as a coach, but Barcelona, against good teams performing at their usual level, will find themselves facing their goalkeeper on five or five occasions,” Benito said.

He added that high-level opponents were capable of taking advantage of the gaps left by Barcelona’s advanced defensive line, arguing that Flick continued to take too many tactical risks in certain areas of the game.

Real Madrid exposed Barcelona’s defensive risks

Despite his criticism, Benito praised Barcelona’s attacking style. He said the team played attractive football and could overcome most opponents through its pace and sustained pressing, particularly against sides without the quality to punish its defensive positioning.

The match against Real Madrid, however, demonstrated the danger of that approach when Barcelona faced players capable of making the most of the available space, including Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham.

Benito said Real Madrid created four or five opportunities that should have been handled better by its players in the final pass or in the decision-making phase of attacks. In his view, the home side’s opponents had been capable of causing even greater damage.

Benito praises Real Madrid’s defensive organisation

Benito also highlighted the collective discipline shown by Real Madrid under Jose Mourinho, stressing that the team’s performance was not based solely on its attacking threat but began with its defensive commitment.

“Everyone ran, and they had a defensive plan in which nobody broke the rules,” he said.

The former Real Madrid player explained that the team’s organisation allowed it to regain possession, disrupt Barcelona’s play and then use the quality of its attacking players effectively.

He said Real Madrid had found an effective way to compete with Barcelona at Camp Nou, describing the victory as an important starting point for building the season. The players, he added, had demonstrated that they were able to follow a clear plan and maintain their discipline throughout the match.