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The numbers behind Barcelona’s unbeaten centre-back pairing in La Liga this season
TL;DR
Barcelona's unbeaten centre-back pairing of Gerard Martin and Pau Cubarsi has stabilized the team's defense in La Liga this season, following Inigo Martinez's departure. Manager Hansi Flick's tactical adjustments have led to improved performance.
Key points
- Inigo Martinez left Barcelona last summer
- Hansi Flick experimented with various defensive combinations
- Gerard Martin and Pau Cubarsi formed an unbeaten pairing
- The defensive tweak improved Barcelona's performance in La Liga
FC Barcelona
The numbers behind Barcelona’s unbeaten centre-back pairing in La Liga this season
Inigo Martinez’s departure last summer left FC Barcelona manager Hansi Flick with a situation in defence that was seemingly unsolvable. After all, the Spaniard was a regular starter alongside Pau Cubarsi last season, and there was no clear replacement.
For long, the manager tried and tested a plethora of combinations, including utilising Ronald Araujo and Eric Garcia in defence. The backline, however, remained inconsistent and unreliable through it all.
It was only the decision to field Gerard Martin as a centre-back alongside Cubarsi that first showed signs of stability, and much of the team’s positive run in La Liga now has to do with the same defensive tweak.
A perfect pairing
As reported by MARCA in a recent report, the combination of Cubarsi and Martin has been Barcelona’s best and most reliable pairing this season, and by quite some distance.
In fact, the team has never lost in La Liga with the Catalan duo at the back in what is an astonishing record this season.
Q&A
What impact did Inigo Martinez's departure have on Barcelona's defense?
Inigo Martinez's departure left a gap in Barcelona's defense, prompting manager Hansi Flick to experiment with various combinations before finding stability with Gerard Martin and Pau Cubarsi.
Who are the current centre-backs for Barcelona in La Liga?
The current centre-backs for Barcelona in La Liga are Gerard Martin and Pau Cubarsi, who have formed an unbeaten pairing this season.
How has Gerard Martin contributed to Barcelona's success in La Liga?
Gerard Martin's inclusion as a centre-back alongside Pau Cubarsi has significantly contributed to Barcelona's positive run in La Liga by providing much-needed defensive stability.
