A Deep Dive into Barcelona's Set-Piece Success This Season

It has been nothing short of a sensational start to the Hansi Flick era for FC Barcelona, who find themselves atop the LaLiga table with 34 points from 14 matches. Their set-piece profligacy has been a major factor in their success -- between corner kicks and indirect free kicks, the Blaugranas have scored 13 goals in 16 matches across LaLiga and the UEFA Champions League, whilst they have also conceded 15 goals in that same timeframe -- none of which have come from a dead-ball situation.

Barcelona have not only delivered plenty of threat in terms of attacking corner kicks, but also defending them. Barcelona have a different pattern depending on the angle of the corner and the target area, relying heavily on swinging the ball outward. Raphinha will typically deliver the set-piece, where the team will then have two different patterns to use. They will either target a player at the edge of the box or aim towards the far post and then redirect the ball into the middle of the six-yard area.

In the first pattern, Barcelona will have three players on the edge of the box, with four attackers attracting the opposing defenders towards the first post. This pattern helped Barcelona achieve success vs. Deportivo Alavés, who left just one player in front of the edge of the box, with the Blaugrana players separating from their defenders and attracting the attention of other opponents, with the target player making his way to the front of the goal.

We can see four Barcelona players run towards the near post to attract defenders towards this area and thus empty the far post of the opposing players. Three Barcelona players -- Lamine Yamal, Iñigo Martínez and Fermín López -- find themselves with ample time and space in this clearance area, with Martínez serving as the reference point vs. Young Boys.