According to a report by Barca Universal on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Barcelona will be looking to recover from their first defeat of the season when they host Real Madrid at Spotify Camp Nou for the first El Clasico of the campaign on Sunday.

Hansi Flick’s side have made a promising start to the season, but their recent defensive struggles have raised concerns ahead of the important encounter. Barcelona will need to improve at the back to avoid another disappointing result against their biggest rivals.

According to the report, Barcelona have conceded 15 goals in their first 12 official matches, including nine in La Liga and six in the Champions League. Their European record is particularly worrying, as they have allowed an average of two goals per game.

Rayo Vallecano, Levante, Racing Santander and Real Betis have all scored twice against Barcelona, while Paris Saint Germain found the net four times in Tuesday’s 4-2 victory.

One major concern is Barcelona’s weakness when defending crosses and set pieces. Goals conceded from headers, crosses and a corner against PSG have exposed problems with marking and positioning. These weaknesses could prove costly against a Real Madrid side capable of exploiting spaces inside the penalty area.

Individual errors have also contributed to Barcelona’s defensive problems. Risky decisions against Levante and Racing Santander reportedly resulted in goals, while PSG punished the Catalan side with two strikes from outside the penalty area.

Injuries have further complicated Flick’s preparations. The absence of Andreas Christensen, Jules Kounde and Eric Garcia has forced the manager to make frequent changes to his defence.

The report states that Barcelona have used 10 different defensive combinations in their first 12 matches, making it difficult to establish consistency. Against PSG, Flick reportedly relied on a makeshift back line featuring Xavi Espart, Pau Cubarsi, Gerard Martin and Joao Cancelo.

With Real Madrid approaching, Barcelona must improve their defensive organisation, communication and concentration. Flick will also need his midfielders and forwards to provide better protection when possession is lost.

A stronger defensive performance will be essential if Barcelona hope to secure victory and regain confidence in the La Liga title race.