Barcelona’s 0-0 draw against Osasuna on Saturday night marked the first time the Catalans have been shut out in La Liga play since their 0-0 draw against Villarreal in January of 2012.
The match against Osasuna proved difficult for Barcelona. The Catalans defended well and created several chances but was unable to find the back of the net.
In truth, the performance looked very similar to matches last season. Everyone on the pitch seemed content to pass the ball and create chances, but no one looked dangerous in front of goal.
Chances were wasted, direct attacking was nonexistent and Lionel Messi did not have enough time to impact the game with only 20 minutes on the pitch.
But should Barcelona fans be worried that the scoring burden is still very much dependent on Messi?
The answer is both yes and no.
It is no secret that Barcelona thrives with Messi on the pitch. He is arguably the best player on the planet, and it makes sense that the club wouldn’t play as well without him.
Barcelona is used to having Messi lead the attack and work his magic every match. Without the Argentine in the lineup, the offense does take a hit, but it isn’t as dependent on him as it used to be.
Against Osasuna, the Catalans managed to get off 12 shots, but only three were on target. However, they also attempted 16 dribbles to Osasuna’s two, showing that Barcelona still prefers to keep the ball on the ground rather than take their chances at goal.
There is a reason why Barcelona seem to struggle to find the back of the net at times, and it all comes down to the types of players in their squad.
When looking at the group it quickly becomes apparent that Barcelona has many more creators than scorers.
Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas are all wonderful distributors who keep the flow going but will rarely put the ball past the keeper. But it isn’t just the midfield that lacks true scorers.
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