In a distant friendly match in Qatar, Barcelona's veterans triumphed over Real Madrid, with a standout moment being Ronaldinho's incredible free-kick. The ball curled perfectly over the wall, slipping past a helpless Paco Buyo. That kind of execution, so precise and flawless, is something Barcelona fans have not witnessed since Messi's departure.

The Dry Spell Without Messi's Precision

Since then, Barcelona's free-kick numbers have been disappointing. In the three and a half seasons without Messi, the team has taken 80 free-kicks, scoring just three times. Ferran Torres did it against Betis, Lewandowski against Valencia, and Pablo Torre against Sevilla. The rest have been unsuccessful, with 77 attempts going unanswered, highlighting a significant weakness in this aspect of the game.

The Importance of Set Pieces in Tight Matches

Set pieces can often make the difference between a win and a draw in tight matches. For example, in last season's encounter with Las Palmas, Raphinha had two clear chances to take a free-kick that could have turned the game around, but his efforts were unsuccessful. Despite scoring free-kicks for Brazil, he has yet to find the net with Barcelona after 32 attempts since joining the club. The Brazilian is still waiting for his first official free-kick goal with Barcelona.

Lewandowski and Ferran: A Far Cry from Messi's Legacy

Lewandowski, while more effective than Raphinha, has a record of 1 goal in 12 free-kick attempts, while Ferran Torres has scored 1 goal in 7 attempts. However, neither of them seems to be a specialist in this area, emphasizing the need for a dedicated free-kick taker in the squad.

Can Pedri Be Barcelona's Next Free-Kick Specialist?

According to some sources, Pedri has shown great skill in training, but he has yet to get the opportunity to take a free-kick in an official match. In fact, 14 different players have tried their hand at free-kicks during training, but the outcome remains the same: a lack of precision.

The Need for a True Free-Kick Specialist

Barcelona urgently needs a specialist in free-kicks, someone who can make a difference in those tight games that are decided by a simple strike of the ball. Someone like Messi, who for years was Barcelona's reference in this discipline, and who, after hours of practice and refinement, became one of the best in the world in this area. If Barcelona wants to regain their ability to score from free-kicks and break through in tough matches, they will need to find that player who can step up as their new specialist.