Barcelona’s resolution to function and not using a conventional No. 9 has not stopped Hansi Flick’s aspect from producing one of many most explosive attacking starts within the membership’s historical past.
Barça have scored 17 objectives throughout their opening 4 La Liga matches, and three gamers have been liable for a lot of that manufacturing.
Raphinha, Fermin Lopez and Lamine Yamal have mixed for 14 objectives, giving Flick an attacking core that has been remarkably productive from the opening weeks of the marketing campaign.
To place it in perspective, SPORT mentions that the final time a three-man attacking unit scored at the least 14 objectives within the opening 4 matchdays of La Liga was in 1958/59, when Actual Madrid’s Alfredo Di Stefano, Hector Rial and Ferenc Puskas mixed for 15.
Raphinha leads Barcelona’s attacking cost
Raphinha has emerged because the central determine in Flick’s new-look assault, offering affect each by his performances and his management.
The Brazilian has scored six objectives and provided one help in his 4 appearances, establishing himself as Barcelona’s main scorer.
His begin has additionally positioned him alongside two historic names within the membership’s report books.
Raphinha has change into solely the third Barcelona participant to attain in every of the opening 4 La Liga matchdays. Ladislao Kubala first achieved the feat in 1953 earlier than Lionel Messi repeated it throughout the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons.
Fermin and Lamine add extra energy
In the meantime, Fermin has demonstrated that he’s excess of a supporting determine in Barcelona’s attacking construction.
The 23-year-old has 4 objectives and two assists from 4 matches, making him the third-highest scorer in La Liga at this stage.
His scoring run additionally carries a historic footnote, as he’s the primary Spanish participant to attain 4 objectives in Barcelona’s opening 4 league video games since Cesc Fabregas managed the identical feat in 2011/12.
Then there’s Lamine Yamal, who continues to make his influence felt past merely discovering the online.
The 19-year-old has scored 4 instances and added an help, whereas creating 4 clear-cut possibilities and finishing 16 profitable dribbles, a mean of 4 per match.
Gordon completes Flick’s attacking puzzle
Lastly, Anthony Gordon gives one thing totally different from the opposite three.
The 25-year-old Englishman has not arrived as Barcelona’s major goalscorer, however his creativity has already change into helpful to Flick.
Gordon has registered 4 assists in 4 matches and in addition pressured an personal purpose in opposition to Rayo Vallecano, giving him a direct function in Barcelona’s extraordinary attacking output.
That selection might be the most important motive for optimism. Raphinha leads the scoring, Fermin assaults harmful areas, Lamine Yamal disrupts defensive buildings, and Gordon creates alternatives for these round him.
Barcelona might not have a standard No. 9, however Flick has discovered one other solution to make his assault unpredictable.
