Barcelona Scored Five, But Their Defence Still Has Questions to Answer
Nine league matches. Nine wins. Thirty-nine goals scored.
Those numbers are ridiculous. Barcelona are not simply collecting points; they are setting a frightening pace at the top of La Liga. But while the goals deserve attention, I think there is another side to this performance that deserves an honest conversation.
Barcelona can destroy you going forward, but they can also give you reasons to believe you can hurt them.
Lamine Yamal opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a stunning finish from outside the box. It was the kind of goal that reminds you why he is becoming one of the most exciting young players in world football. He was not finished there, either. His movement and creativity continued to trouble Betis, and his assist for Gabriel Jesus' goal showed that his influence goes beyond spectacular finishes.
Barcelona had quality throughout the attack, and the goals from Rodri, Gabriel Jesus, Eric García and Dani Olmo demonstrated that the danger does not come from one player alone. When a team has several players capable of contributing goals, defending against them becomes a nightmare.
But Betis did not simply roll over.
Valentín Gómez equalised in the first half, and Ez Abde scored again after Gabriel Jesus had restored Barcelona's two-goal cushion. There were moments when Betis found space and threatened to make the contest uncomfortable for the visitors.
That is where my concern begins.
Barcelona eventually won comfortably on the scoreboard, but their opponents found ways to create danger. Against a team with greater ruthlessness in front of goal, those defensive openings could become much more expensive.
Of course, context matters. Betis were reduced to ten men after Facundo Bernal was sent off following an incident involving Yamal. Barcelona took advantage of the extra space, scored twice more, and turned a competitive contest into a convincing victory.
That is credit to Barcelona. Good teams punish opponents when opportunities appear.
Still, we should be careful not to confuse an excellent attacking performance with a flawless one. The red card changed the conditions of the match, and the final score does not tell the entire story.
This is not me questioning whether Barcelona are good enough to compete for major honours. Their record speaks for itself. It is about whether they can maintain this attacking intensity while becoming more reliable without the ball.
Because there will be matches when Yamal cannot produce a moment of magic. There will be nights when the forwards miss chances. And there will be opponents who do not allow Barcelona to recover so easily after conceding.
Those are the occasions when defensive organisation becomes just as important as attacking brilliance.
For now, Barcelona supporters have every reason to enjoy this run. Nine victories from nine league matches is an outstanding achievement, and scoring 39 goals along the way is no small feat. Hansi Flick's team are playing with confidence, and their attacking options make them a serious problem for anyone they face.
But I will reserve the word unstoppable until I see them combine this firepower with greater control at the back.
Scoring five is spectacular. Knowing how to protect your goal when the pressure rises is what turns a spectacular team into a complete one.
So, let me ask
Are Barcelona genuine favourites for the biggest trophies this season, or will their defensive vulnerabilities eventually catch up with them when the stakes get higher?
I want to hear your honest opinions.