Barcelona finds itself in a tactical conundrum as Sevilla and Rayo Vallecano expose their vulnerability to high pressing. Matías Almeyda, Sevilla’s coach, unveils the strategy that unsettles the Catalan giants.

In a recent interview with La Razón, Almeyda shared his insights from years of studying Barcelona. “Every team that has sat back and waited has lost—98 percent of them,” he stated, emphasizing the need for a proactive approach. His analysis is backed by recent performances where both Rayo Vallecano and Sevilla disrupted Barcelona’s rhythm with relentless pressure.

The High-Press Strategy

The key to unsettling Barcelona lies in pressing high and refusing to sit deep. This approach forces turnovers in dangerous areas, allowing teams to capitalize on Barcelona’s mistakes. Almeyda pointed out that teams daring enough to step forward often make Barcelona suffer.

This strategy was evident in recent matches where Rayo and Sevilla successfully disrupted Barcelona’s buildup play. By applying sustained pressure in midfield, they created scoring opportunities and exposed the vulnerabilities of Barcelona’s high defensive line.

Exploiting the High Line

Both teams targeted Barcelona’s high line with second-man runs from midfield, a tactic particularly effective against players like Gerard Martin, Cubarsi, and Pedri. These runs are challenging to track, especially for more athletic and fast players.

The success of this strategy raises questions about how other teams might adopt similar tactics against Barcelona. As Almeyda revealed, “You have to find other ways.”

This revelation could signal a shift in how teams approach matches against the Catalan giants, potentially leading to more challenging encounters for Barcelona in the future.