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Football

How strikers are copying Harry Kane tactic to exploit Barcelona’s defence

Harry Kane celebrates scoring for Bayern Munich against Barcelona in October 2024Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption,

Harry Kane scored at Barcelona last season and a tactical trend has emerged

By

Football tactics correspondent

Barcelona have lost their latest two games and there is a Harry Kane-inspired tactical tweak that teams are using to create chances against them this season.

Budding strikers are often advised to pay attention to defensive lines and stay onside, but in the professional game there are forwards who deliberately occupy offside positions in order to score later on in attacking moves.

Why strikers are standing ‘offside’

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick in a hooded blue jacket at the La Liga match against Real OviedoImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption,

Barcelona’s Hansi Flick is known for his front-footed managerial style

PSG recently beat Barcelona in the Champions League as striker Goncalo Ramos scored a 90th-minute winner.

When discussing how the goal happened, Ramos said: “I think a lot about beating a high line. Against Barcelona, [there is] a video of Harry Kane, I think two years ago, and he did something like I did on the goal, and he scored.”

But what did he mean by this?

Interestingly, both Ramos and Kane were able to score against Barcelona’s high defensive line by initially waiting in an offside position, something defenders aren’t used to.

A screengrab from Bayern Munich and Barcelona's game last season showing how Harry Kane began behind Barcelona's high defence in a move that eventually led to him scoring in last season's Champions League gameImage source, BBC SportImage caption,

Bayern Munich striker Kane began behind Barcelona’s high defence in a move that eventually led to him scoring in last season’s Champions League game

Thomas Muller has previously spoken about attackers positioning themselves in this way.

Long-serving Bayern Munich forward Muller, who left at the end of last season to join Vancouver Whitecaps, said: “It is easier to defend a guy that comes to the ball because then the striker is in front of them. They can see and defend him.

“But when you have a guy that is [behind you], you always have to turn [but] you don’t want to give up your offside line.”

The unusual positioning disrupts central defenders and removes some of the tools they use to marshal their opposing striker.

Momentum prevents Barcelona getting back

Barcelona look to catch opponents offside and as a result the defenders face the ball, looking to step up the pitch.

PSG last week – and Bayern before them – had players facing Barcelona’s goal with their weight and momentum in the right direction, ready to run in behind.

This made it difficult for Barcelona’s defence to recover. Having to turn before accelerating again reduces how quickly they can get back to defend their goal.

This problem has been made worse with the strikers having a head start in their offside position. In the case of the Ramos and Kane goals, the wide players in PSG’s Achraf Hakimi and Bayern’s Serge Gnabry also had the pace to go beyond the Barcelona defence.

A screengrab from PSG's recent win against Barcelona showing Barcelona's high line and their forward orientation, compared to PSG's attackers facing the other direction, ready to run in behindImage source, BBC SportImage caption,

Barcelona’s defence try to step up forward while Ramos and Hakimi are positioned well to run in behind

In both examples, the ball was switched to a quicker wide player running in behind. Crucially, they were onside when the pass was played to them, while the comparatively slower striker caused uncertainty centrally, in an offside position.

This scheme helps teams to score against Barcelona’s high line even if they don’t have the paciest striker, by instead looking to release their quicker wide players first in onside positions.

A screengrab from PSG's recent win vs Barcelona showing Barcelona's high line being exploited by a pass to Hakimi out wide. Both Hakimi and Ramos are running in behind Barcelona's high defensive line.Image source, BBC SportImage caption,

Hakimi has the pace to bring the ball past the defensive line which quickly ensures Ramos is onside

Getting back onside to score

With the tactic deployed, both strikers moved towards the back post rather than coming towards the ball, giving them time to move into an onside position as the wide players carried the ball up the pitch.

The central attacker’s positioning towards the back post allowed for the pass to be played into space for them to meet, with time for the pass to curl back towards them and away from the goalkeeper.

From their initial offside position, the strikers – now onside – were able to maintain an advantage in order to receive the ball uncontested for a clear sight of goal.

A screengrab from Bayern's 4-1 loss to Barcelona in 2024 showing Gnabry's cross to Harry Kane for Kane's goalImage source, BBC SportImage caption,

Gnabry assists Kane who arrives at the ball before any of the Barcelona defenders can get back

The similarities in both goals analysed are stark, but examples of this scheme have not been limited to these two games.

Concerningly, Barcelona have conceded similar chances against the likes of Levante, Rayo Vallecano and Sevilla in the league this season.

Sevilla beat Barcelona 4-1 on Sunday.

Given how effective the tactic has proven, it is likely more teams will begin to implement it, against Barcelona and teams who play with high lines in general.

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Cricket

ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025: Australia start title defence with win

Ash Gardner struck a superb lower-order century as Australia began the defence of their Women’s World Cup title with an 89-run victory over New Zealand in Indore.

The all-rounder helped her side recover after they slipped to 128-5, striking 115 from 83 balls as the seven-time champions piled up 326.

New Zealand captain Sophie Devine struck a defiant century of her own after coming in with her side 0-2, and briefly threatened to drag the White Ferns to a remarkable victory.

She hammered 12 fours and three sixes in her run-a-ball 112, but became the first of three New Zealand wickets to fall in Annabel Sutherland’s 43rd over as Australia snuffed out any chance of an opening defeat.

Phoebe Litchfield got Australia off to a flying start after Alyssa Healy won the toss and chose to bat, firing a 31-ball 45 as they reached 81-1 at the end of the powerplay.

However the 22-year-old was bowled by Melie Kerr with the first ball of the 11th over, and Australia’s charge stalled until Gardner’s arrival.

Coming in at number six, Gardner marshalled partnerships of 64 and 69 with Tahlia McGrath and Alana King, before being caught behind off Bree Illing.

Devine’s innings started slowly as she rebuilt with a 75-run pairing with Kerr, but she accelerated as New Zealand reached the 42-over mark needing 91.

But Sutherland bowled the veteran all-rounder to start a rapid end to the match, with New Zealand losing their last four wickets for two runs to be dismissed with 40 balls remaining.

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