FC Barcelona: Highlight Clips Worth Watching

ferdydurke — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:08:30 -0800

Allas creates surprisingly novel highlight clips of FC Barcelona, perhaps the most talented football/soccer team of the moment. This fifteen minute video illustrates Barcelona’s tactics, and serves as an introduction to aspects of the beautiful game that were previously invisible to novices like me. [Note: Those sensitive to maudlin music may wish to mute some of the following youtube clips] Barcelona is known for a passing-intensive game that relies on possession and control of the ball. As an example, here’s a 32-pass interchange from a couple of months ago that leads to a goal. Here are two compilations of this tiki-taka style of play. This one-touch football is the end-result of much practice. Barcelona’s most famous player – and arguably the most talented player of this generation – is Lionel Messi. Messi has a non-flashy, but brutally effective technique of misdirection. Allas focuses as much on Messi’s running and dribbling, as his extraordinary goal scoring skills. Here’s a short compilation which shows how the combination of precise short passes and Messi’s dribbling skills eviscerates defenses. Other players, particularly in the midfield, get Allas’ love. Here is an analysis of passes primarily between Xavi, Iniesta and Sergio Busquets which sets up a goal. Here are compilations of Iniesta’s assists and Xavi’s assists. And finally an appreciation of Xavi’s seemingly 360 degree vision. Defenders also get the love, both Barcelona and opponents, particularly when pressing high up the field. Victor Valdes, the goalie, is admired for his role in distributing the ball in addition to brilliant saves. Over 100 additional videos here and here. FC Barcelona discussed previously and previously.

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FC Barcelona: Highlight Clips Worth Watching