At a glance
- Consistency: Whenever Pau Cubarsi is available, he’s Hansi Flick’s first choice for the FC Barcelona back line.
- Surgical precision: In the 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano, he once again came close to perfection with a 92% pass completion rate.
- Defensive impact: The team concedes far fewer shots on goal when he leads the defence.
- Tactical vision: The La Masia product facilitates a clean build-up from the back.
Top-flight football doesn’t usually wait for anyone, but FC Barcelona centre-back Pau Cubarsi seems to have been born with a different sense of time to the rest.
At the grand age of 19, the Catalan centre-back has gone from being a promising La Masia Class of 2007 prospect to becoming the cornerstone of a defensive system.
Considering Barça’s tactical approach and their high defensive line, Pau Cubarsi is the perfect centre-back to deal with all those counter-attacking moves that rivals try to catch the Catalans out with.
The 1,000-Minute Hierarchy at FC Barcelona
It’s not just a gut feeling; Cubarsi’s statistics point to a centre-back of the highest calibre.
His performance in the 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano on Sunday were yet another demonstration of his development: not only because of his impeccable distribution, but also because of his reading of the game.
Cubarsi knows when to press and when to hold back, a quality that saves the rest of the defence from unnecessary exertion.
In my view, the key to the team keeping a clean sheet – which Joan Garcia hasn’t managed yet in Europe this term – lies in how Pau is supported.
My personal suggestion for this ‘Plan Cerrojo’ involves placing Eric Garcia at right-back (to secure the inside pass), Joao Cancelo on the left (to stretch the pitch) and a centre-back pairing of Cubarsi himself and Gerard Martin.
This structure would allow Cubarsi to act as the brain of the back line, as Gerard provides the necessary physical aggression in one-on-one duels and is currently favoured over Ronald Araujo.
The ideal FC Barcelona centre-back partner for the ‘lock’
Cubarsi’s importance goes beyond the individual. His presence allows the defensive line to push higher up the pitch, taking risks that only a centre-back with his ability to recover and anticipate can sustain.
If Barça are to end their run of 13 consecutive games conceding in Europe, they need Cubarsi to maintain that 92% pass completion rate to avoid losing possession in critical areas.
Considering Flick’s men lost 4-0 to Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semifinal first leg at the Metropolitano, and failed to overturn that despite a 3-0 win at home in the return fixture, it is something that could prove key to advancing to the same stage of the Champions League.
There’s a two-leg tie against the Rojiblancos to navigate in the continental competition’s last eight next month, and the first leg will be played in the Catalan capital before heading to the Spanish counterpart for the decider.
In short, though, Cubarsi is the ‘silent leader’ who has matured in leaps and bounds. His understanding of the tactical set-up and his composure under pressure are the best guarantee that the Spotify Camp Nou will once again celebrate a night of invincibility when it matters the most.
