Barcelona’s transformation from early January crisis to mid-March brilliance has been mightily impressive to behold.
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Just 10 weeks ago they were heading into a home league clash with Atletico Madrid under enormous pressure, facing the general assumption that anything less than three points could end to their title challenge and even cost Luis Enrique his job.
They responded marvellously, playing with an intensity and intent that had rarely been seen from the Blaugrana in the previous couple of years to record a fully deserved 3-1 victory, dispelling the negativity created by the previous weekend’s loss at Real Sociedad and subsequent revelations of a bitter row between Enrique and star man Lionel Messi.
Messi has been at the very centre of his team’s superb recent form, leading one Catalan newspaper to categorically state this week that he is now playing better than ever – which is saying something.
Literally speaking in terms of their playing approach, however, Messi has not been at the centre at all, but operating with devastating effectiveness from his new position on the right wing.
And that subtle difference reveals a crucial shift in Barca’s entire tactical focus, which has seen them develop from a team based around possession of the ball in midfield into a side centred around getting the best out of their mercurial three forwards: Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.
During Barca’s past glories under Pep Guardiola, Messi was still the star player but Xavi was arguably more important to the overall structure, conducting the rhythm and tempo of the game with relentless short passing in midfield.
“I don’t believe there are any favourites in these types of matches,” says Luis Enrique regarding #ElClasico #FCBlive
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 21, 2015
With support from Andres Iniesta and Messi, dropping deep from his ‘false nine’ striking position into the midfield area, it was exhausting to play against, exhilarating to watch and incredibly successful.
But Xavi, now 35, cannot control a game like he used to, and Enrique has guided the team away from the emphasis of Xavi, Iniesta and Messi and towards their new holy trinity: Messi, Suarez and Neymar.
A side-effect – as identified by Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti – is a much greater use of width, with full-backs Dani Alves and Jordi Alba playing a crucial role in the team’s attacking shape as they bomb forward to support Messi and Neymar, with Suarez also using his excellent movement to pull into wide positions.
The evolution of a ‘new Barca’ has been fascinating, and so far very fruitful with Enrique’s team gaining 17 victories from their last 18 games in all competitions.
But the biggest challenges are still to come, starting with today’s Clasico, and there remains a suspicion that high-class opposition will be able to exploit the new system’s inherent defensive vulnerability to fast-paced counter-attacks.
Messi and Neymar’s wide positions leaves the full-backs unsupported in defence, especially when they get forward as much as Alves and Alba are expected to do.
With Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Isco, Real Madrid have the perfect weapons to exploit that weakness; with Arjen Robben and Frank Ribery, so too do Bayern Munich if they cross paths in the Champions League.
Barca’s development over the past couple of months has been extremely encouraging, but nothing has yet been won and doubts remain. Some of them can be eradicated today
