FC Barcelona Start Season With These Huge Advantages Over Real Madrid

FC Barcelona officially get their 2023/2024 season underway through an away trip to Getafe on Sunday, starting the defense of their La Liga crown with considerable advantages over bitter rivals Real Madrid.

Becoming domestic champions for the first time in four years last term, Barca finished 10 points ahead of their eternal enemies in El Clasico while boosted by the pulling of several ‘economic levers’ that allowed them to make much-needed new signings.

And while many onlookers expect the title race to be much closer this time round, the Blaugrana do boast the upper hand in various facets of the game.

Starting from the back between the sticks, Madrid star Thibaut Courtiois has effectively been ruled out until well into next year – for possibly the whole season – after leaving a training session in tears this week.

The 31-year-old has torn his ACL, and losing a player considered by many to be the best goalkeeper in the world, who has arguably won them many games on his own such as the 2021/2022 Champions League final, is a major blow for Los Blancos.

On the other side of the ball, however, Barca have a shotstopper once considered the greatest the game has to offer, who was pivotal in returning his side to the top of Spanish football.

As Madrid rush around to find a last-minute replacement for Courtois, Marc-Andre ter Stegen will look to build upon a return to top form last season where he kept a joint record 26 clean sheets as part of Europe’s strongest defense.

After the turn of 2023, Xavi finally found the tactical system that worked for him.

It consists of fielding four midfielders, with Gavi a false left winger which could be Ilkay Gundogan as the youngster fights for minutes.

In one of its first airings, Gavi was devastating with a goal and two assists as Barca trounced Madrid 3-1 in the Spanish Super Cup final in Riyadh.

Meanwhile, however, Carlo Ancelotti is still unsure on what approach to take to accommodate Jude Bellingham, and will experiment with a 4-4-2 diamond that might not take.

One thing is for sure, neither Bellingham nor the set up were effective when Madrid were thrashed 3-0 by the Blaugrana in Arlington, Texas a fortnight ago – and it also leaves them open to attacks down the wings as seen routinely during the preseason tour of the United States.

As big a blow as Courtois’ absence is that of Karim Benzema who fled to Saudi Arabia in early June.

The 4-4-2 has Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo as the two attackers with no natural number 9 other than Joselu who is not expected to be a regular starting player.

The Brazilian duo are more than capable in the opposition’s half, but they have consistently worked better feeding off an out-and-out striker like the Frenchman.

In Catalonia, though, Barca have Robert Lewandowski and then Vitor Roque arriving in January 2024 if not sooner.

Furthermore, when established or aging stars aren’t performing, Barca can call on a wealth of young talent such as Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez and Ez Abde to make an impact.

Substitute Lopez was pivotal in turning a 1-0 lead into a 3-0 scoreline in Texas at Madrid’s expense, with Yamal and Ez Abde both dazzling in the Joan Gamper Trophy match against Spurs where Barca were losing in the eventual 4-2 win before Xavi introduced them.

These are just some of the advantages Barca have over the team from the capital.

And while they could prove irrelevant in the grand scheme of things as the season goes on, they definitely provide food for thought from the offset.