Abelardo questions defensive quality after emphatic Istanbul win

Former Barcelona defender Abelardo believes Hansi Flick’s side still need a top-level centre-back to win the Champions League, despite their 4-1 victory away to Galatasaray on Tuesday 13 October.

The win gave Barcelona two victories from their opening two European matches in the 2026-27 Champions League league phase, but they have conceded in both. Barcelona beat Feyenoord before the Istanbul trip, yet neither result brought a clean sheet.

17-match clean-sheet run continues

Their run without a clean sheet in the Champions League has now reached 17 consecutive matches, according to the figures reported in the coverage of Abelardo’s assessment.

Abelardo’s concern is about the quality available at the back when Barcelona face the competition’s strongest forwards. He pointed to the need to win individual defensive duels against players such as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Harry Kane, arguing that the squad still lacks top-level options in central defence.

That warning came after an emphatic scoreline, but the Galatasaray match itself offered a reminder that Barcelona can be tested before their attack takes control. The hosts scored first, and the Blaugrana had to recover before pulling away in the second half.

Squad gap highlighted after summer inactivity

The former defender’s view is not that Barcelona cannot win the competition: he considers it possible, but believes they need a higher standard of centre-back to make a serious challenge. His comments were reported by Barca Blaugranes after the Galatasaray match.

Barcelona did not add a central defender in the summer window. The club’s recruitment choices left that position without the new senior reinforcement Abelardo says is needed.

Champions League start so far

Barcelona’s league-phase record after two games:

• Matches played: 2
• Wins: 2
• Goals conceded: at least one in each match
• Consecutive matches without a clean sheet: 17

The numbers capture the tension in Barcelona’s start: they have won both games convincingly, while the defensive sequence Abelardo highlighted has continued. A strong attacking display in Istanbul did not, in itself, answer the question he raised about the squad’s options at centre-back.

For now Barcelona have six points from six available in the league phase, with their next European test still to come. Their unbeaten start gives them a strong position, but the 17-match clean-sheet drought remains the clearest statistic behind Abelardo’s warning.