Episode Details

Barcelona’s start to the season has put one of Real Madrid’s great teams back in the conversation.

Sid is joined by Dom from Dom’s Tactics Lab to compare Hansi Flick’s current Barcelona with Mourinho’s 2011/12 Madrid side and ask whether the 100-point season and La Liga goals record are genuinely under threat.

They break down Raphinha’s absurd start, the lack of a traditional No. 9, Fermín López’s role attacking the box, Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s new signings and the weaknesses that could eventually slow them down.

Then they get into Rodri’s impact on Barcelona’s possession structure, what he has changed for Pedri, why Barça’s passing numbers have jumped, and the contrast with a Real Madrid side increasingly willing to concede the ball under Mourinho.

Plus: where Barcelona still need reinforcements, the importance of their left center-back position, and what this early-season form could actually look like by April and May.

Monthly Real Deal x Dom’s Tactics Lab crossover.

Timestamps:

00:00 Sid welcomes Dom back to The Real Deal

01:42 Can Flick’s Barcelona break Mourinho’s 2012 Madrid records?

04:00 Barça’s scoring pace vs Mourinho’s 2011/12 Real Madrid

04:50 Raphinha’s ridiculous start to the season

07:07 Raphinha vs Mbappé and what makes Barça’s attack work

10:07 Fermín López, Jude Bellingham and life without a No. 9

13:29 Comparing Barcelona’s attack to Ronaldo, Benzema and Higuaín

15:49 Why the 100-point record is much harder to break

16:42 Barcelona’s biggest weaknesses and injury risks

19:52 Rodri’s impact and Real Madrid’s possession problem

22:18 How Rodri has changed Pedri and Barcelona’s passing structure

24:38 Can Barça actually sustain this into April and May?