Paris Saint-Germain striker Goncalo Ramos has revealed that a goal scored almost a year ago by Harry Kane for Bayern Munich against Barcelona significantly influenced his winning goal in PSG`s recent 2-1 Champions League victory over the Catalan giants. Although Kane`s goal did not alter the outcome of his own match, a 4-1 loss for Bayern, Ramos, having studied that play, understood how Kane successfully exploited Barcelona`s high defensive line. This anecdote highlights PSG`s meticulous approach to game preparation and attention to detail.
During that Bayern-Barcelona encounter, Kane repeatedly tested Barcelona`s aggressive high defensive strategy. After an initial attempt was disallowed for offside, Kane capitalised on his next opportunity by maintaining an advanced position. Serge Gnabry then delivered a perfectly weighted pass, allowing Kane to finish powerfully past the goalkeeper.
Pundits, including Thierry Henry, had previously noted Kane`s effective disregard for Barcelona`s defensive setup, highlighting this as a recurring vulnerability for Hansi Flick`s Barcelona squad at the time. Henry elaborated on Kane`s tactical genius, explaining: “This man realized that in the first half, Barcelona are always pushing too much, so there is no need for you to come back. Just make sure you stay in an offside position. Why? Because if they switch the ball and they switch the ball again, you`re never going to be offside because you`re going to be behind the ball. He`s never going to try to come back in an onside position because he knows he`ll be behind the ball.”
Remarkably, Ramos`s winning goal against Barcelona bore a striking resemblance to Kane`s. Achraf Hakimi provided an exquisite curved pass that found Ramos in an advanced, initially offside-looking position. Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was unable to prevent the shot, securing PSG`s eventual victory.
Ramos himself articulated his tactical preference, stating: “I think a lot about beating a high line. For me, personally, it`s my favorite place. I just went there, and we have very fast players coming from behind. Even against Barcelona, they have a video of Harry Kane, I think two years ago, and he did something like I did on the goal, and he scored.”
PSG`s tactical sophistication is once again evident, building on their innovative strategies. Conversely, Barcelona`s persistent defensive frailties, particularly their susceptibility to high lines and wide spaces, continue to hinder their Champions League aspirations. While Flick`s attacking philosophy generally thrives in La Liga and against many international opponents, it appears vulnerable against elite European teams. The fact that Ramos could replicate a tactical move from a year-old goal due to Barcelona`s unchanged defensive approach highlights a critical flaw. Without significant adjustments, Barcelona`s reliance on the offside trap will remain their Achilles` heel, regardless of their attacking prowess.
