FC Barcelona might not have been at their vintage best against Valencia but showed constant signs of improvement through the 90 minutes. Expecting a starting XI with three 17-year-olds and two 20-year-olds to be perfect is nearly impossible.
Hansi Flick’s team looked woefully out of their depth in the first 25 minutes of the game. Slowly yet surely though, the players started understanding the nature of Valencia’s tactical setup better and their performance in the second half was much improved.
There were quite a few stars for Barcelona like Pau Cubarsi, the two Marcs in midfield, and Lewandowski (for the goals) but the two players who looked to create the most danger for the team were Raphinha and Lamine Yamal.
Flick opted for a rather interesting tactical innovation last night, opting to start Raphinha as a midfielder. Whilst many expected him to operate as the #10, he played more as an #8 alongside Casado and the German coach decided to build with a single pivot.
Lamine Yamal on the other hand started in a familiar position on the right wing but was often seen drifting inside and interchanging roles with Raphinha as the two looked to create havoc on the right flank. Not everything they tried came off but the connection was obvious to see.
After the game, Hansi Flick was quick to point out how the duo offered him solutions to different positions due to their versatile nature. Speaking about Yamal and Raphinha, here is what he had to say, as per SPORT:
“They can play in multiple positions, and right now, it’s necessary to have these solutions. We’re focused on the upcoming week. It will be a tough match, but it’s good to have three points to move on to the next level.”
Barcelona fans know all about Raphinha’s ability to play in different positions, having done so under Xavi last season. However, Yamal has hardly been used anywhere other than the right-wing so far and this is an interesting observation from Hansi Flick.
It opens up the door to the possibility of Flick using Yamal as a #10 in his 4-2-3-1 system. The 17-year-old has the technical ability to navigate through tight spaces and has the eye to pick out a pass.
It’s hardly been a game and we are already witnessing the German’s tactical nous. It’ll be interesting to see the variations of this system and personnel that Flick decides to use in the upcoming games. Fans must remember that not every plan will pay off and we need to be patient to get results in the long run.
