Barca unfazed by suspect defence

It certainly is the most popular, if not simply the greatest.

That fantastic, free-spirited side led by Carlos Alberto gave the country its third global title with a brand of football that captivated the whole world.

Brazil landed the World Cup by winning each and every match … including the qualifiers.

That's 12 wins from 12 matches.

The team comprising Jairzinho, Tostao, Pele and Rivelinho – the most feared forward line of all time - is still talked about in glowing terms today.

Its characteristics were plentiful but its greatest asset might have been an ultra-positive attitude, whereby the side was never too concerned about conceding goals because it knew deep down that it had the firepower to outscore any opposition, any time.

Brazil's defence was suspect to say the least.

Eccentric goalkeeper Felix did not inspire too much confidence, while Brazil's basic 4-2-4 system was often exposed on the break and made its back four look cumbersome.

The Brazilians conceded goals in almost every match on their way to that famous 4-1 victory over Italy in the final in Mexico City.

But, hey, giving up goals was no big deal with such a magnificent, free-scoring attack fed continuously by fullback Carlos Alberto and midfielders Clodoaldo and Gerson.

Barcelona's approach to the current season is reminiscent of Brazil's acclaimed attitude in 1970.

Barca meets Celtic in a top-of-the-table clash at the Camp Nou in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday (AEDT).

Tito Vilanova's team leads Group G with two wins from two while Celtic sprang a major surprise by beating Spartak Moscow 3-2 away in its last match.

Observers have noted that Barca's rearguard is not as dependable and uncompromising as it used to be not so long ago, perhaps due to veteran Carles Puyol's diminishing influence.

Yet the team has not been made to pay too high a price for its defensive slackness.

The reason, of course, is because Barca is a veritable goal machine centred on the incomparable trio of Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi, who is showing more than ever that he is the best footballer of his generation.

The Catalan giant is jointly leading La Liga with Atletico Madrid with 22 points from a possible 24 and is travelling at an average of three goals per game, most of them bearing the little Argentine's signature.

Alarmingly, it also is conceding an average of more than a goal a match.

At the weekend Barca's increasingly erratic keeper Victor Valdes was beaten four times by battling Deportivo in La Coruna but, no worries, at the other end Barca went on to score five times, Messi helping himself to yet another hat-trick for his 11th goal of the season.

These figures make interesting reading after comparing them with those of 2010-2011 when Barca last won La Liga with a miserly total of 21 goals conceded in no fewer than 38 matches.

It is not known if Vilanova's main reason for keeping faith with the team's much-admired possession and attacking philosophy is to protect its suspect defence. Probably not.

However it is a measure of Barcelona's stature in the modern game that it appears to share the same mentality of arguably the most entertaining national team in history.

Only time will tell if this Barcelona side will go down as the greatest ever club side.

One thing is certain: with such a refreshing attitude, no wonder Barcelona has become so popular worldwide.

Just like the old Brazil, as a matter of fact.