VITORIA-GASTEIZ, SPAIN - OCTOBER 06: Hansi Flick, Head Coach of FC Barcelona, looks on during the LaLiga match between Deportivo Alaves and FC Barcelona at Estadio de Mendizorroza on October 06, 2024 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.

Barcelona manage to find a new way to break down their opponents

Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images

Football is all about style and variation, and perhaps no team embodies this better than FC Barcelona. Always having been hailed as a team that plays attractive football with efficiency, the Catalan giants are famous for their brand of football. However, just like any other team, even Barcelona needs to learn to adapt to the times.

Ever since the arrival of Hansi Flick, Barça have shown a new relentless version of themselves. Instead of relying on the ball and their positional play alone, La Blaugrana are now much more aggressive in their own pressing and simply do not like giving their opponents any respect at all.

Breathing down their necks, always making them uncomfortable and throwing off their balance, Flick’s Barcelona loves to be the team in command of a game. However, in the most recent game against Real Betis, it would appear that the team has found a solution to decimate opponents even without their ace striker present.

As highlighted by Mundo Deportivo, the new formation that Hansi Flick used against Real Betis in the team’s most recent Copa del Rey outing saw Dani Olmo start the game as a false 9 for the team, replacing Robert Lewandowski in the starting eleven. Ultimately, it ended up working out quite well for the Catalan giants.

Completely outplaying Betis in a 5-1 demolition, Flick’s side played a scintillating brand of football from start to finish. Goals came from everywhere, with the forwards, midfielders, and defenders all getting in on the action. By deploying Olmo as the team’s focal point in attack, his ability to drop deep and connect passes flawlessly completely confused the opposition and disrupted their structure.

However, at least for Olmo, this was not a new hurdle for him to conquer. Already with the Spanish National team, he has often played as a false 9 and has delivered some great performances. For that reason, Flick seemed to have enough confidence in his ability given that he decided to start him in that position in a crucial knockout game.

Still, MD reports that the first choice will be to start Lewandowski as the team’s ace striker. Despite his age, now being 36 years old, the Polish ace’s goal threat cannot be denied and Flick will continue to entrust him with most of the responsibilities in the final stages of the season. However, having this valuable option of deploying Olmo as an alternative now gives the team a massive weapon.

Sometimes, whether due to fatigue or other issues, Lewandowski may require some extra rest. For that reason, Olmo’s availability as a false 9 is something that Flick will undoubtedly consider making use of moving forward. Even as a tactical switch up, the Spaniard could prove to be an effective option in games where the Pole is having a hard time.

Moreover, with his registration issues now behind him, the 26-year-old Spaniard can help Barcelona with nothing clouding his judgement. Now fully available for selection again, Hansi Flick will be grateful to have Dani Olmo back and ready to play after weeks of uncertainty.

Tags Barcelona 5-1 Real Betis Barcelona vs Real Betis Dani Olmo Dani Olmo false 9