In recent games, it was clear to see that FC Barcelona had been struggling in terms of getting the results they wanted. Against both Real Sociedad and Celta Vigo in their last two outings, La Blaugrana did not seem like themselves. Fortunately for Hansi Flick, however, Barcelona have now managed to find victory again.
Against French side Brest in the UEFA Champions League, Barça put on a great showing as they dismantled their opponents with a scoreline of 3-0 at the Montjuic Stadium. With this victory, Barcelona have now settled quite nicely in the top eight of the first phase of the UEFA Champions League.
However, it is also important to understand how exactly Flick managed to help his team overcome their recent problems and finally deliver a win without Lamine Yamal this season. Hansi Flick needed to make use of his ‘magic square’.
This particular approach saw the German coach line up for this game with Fermin Lopez, Dani Olmo, Pedri, and Marc Casado as the central figures of his team’s structure. On the surface level, Pedri and Casado played deeper roles, while Dani Olmo played a more offensive role through the central channels and Lopez offered him support out wide.
However, beyond what it looks like on paper, this particular formation and system was much more complex. Focusing on dynamism and constant movement, these players relentlessly shifted positions with one another that left the opponents completely bamboozled half the time.
Each player was used in a way that made their strengths stand out and allowed them to showcase their talents in an efficient way. Dani Olmo, for instance, was allowed to roam around freely in the central spaces that opened up and even drifted out wide when he needed to. Ultimately, it led to some promising actions and even a great solo goal for him.
Lopez, on the other hand, was allowed the freedom to attack the opposition box and make darting runs from the central zones as well. This allowed him to come into some really positive positions that he was ultimately unable to take advantage of despite the fact that some great chances came his way.
