Gerard Piquet is Barça’s second coach after Xavi. The defender of the Catalans was included in every break: he chewed on Ronald Araujo’s mistakes, pointed out which zones to open for the Krajs. The activity of the third issue continues the processes that the team faced.
As part of the restructuring, Barça need to find a connection between the past and the future. Pique helps. Xavi’s work also helps.
In the match against Real Madrid, Barça’s attack grew by the minute. The Catalans entered the game with a wide front line but sterile possession. Xavi’s players did not understand how to use the attack group. Example – for the entire 13th minute, the players in blue garnet rolled the ball in the middle third. The result is an imprecise cast.
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Barça started progress after conceding the first goal. In the attack, the team showed the basic groundwork. One of them is the displacement of Usman Dembele with the ball to the center, which led to a goal by Luc de Jong. As a rule, the French winger took the diagonals from Dani Alves.
Dembele moves to center with the ball ahead of De Jong’s goal
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Another work of Xavi is the transfer of Sergio Busquets to the right semi-flank. The defensive player opened at the border of the final third and threw the ball into the penalty area. At the 35th minute, one of the Spaniard’s passes caught Ferran Torres – he threw it into the center and was almost under attack.
Throwing Busquets on Torres, which almost led to Barcelona’s kick from the penalty area
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After the break, Xavi changed the role of Dembele. In the second half, Usman opened just below the front line. While Real’s defense lowered to stop other people’s casts, the Frenchman found freedom in the sharp zones. Evidence – shots at the 47th and 54th minutes.
New type of opening from Dembele – under the front line
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With the release of Ansu Fati, and later Memphis, Depay Xavi abandoned a heavy attack with a clear center forward – L. de Jong. Barcelona got two nines, one of which evened the score in the 83rd minute, and a lighter front line.
Fresh construct in Barça’s attack: Dembele acts in a wide position, in the center – two nines
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Finally, Xavi’s last attacking reform was Dembele’s move to the right flank. Usman changed the edge closer to the final whistle in order to load from his working leg into the penalty area – a classic approach to the blockage of someone else’s box.
Barça changed not only in attack, but also in defense. At first, the Catalans fought back in a 4-4-2 pattern. The middle and front lines pressed and sometimes pressed Real into the flank. Only Madrid regularly got a free player: they got out of the defense in seven ways, while the opponent was pressing with six.
A 4-4-2 shape in Barcelona’s defense
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Xavi later moved the team to 3-2-4-1. First, one more player joined the team pressure. Secondly, there were three defenders behind, which stopped other people’s counterattacks.
Barça’s new defensive formation – 3-2-4-1
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Real Madrid responded with quick attacks. Two of Madrid’s three goals came from the transitional phases: the first after the selection of Karim Benzema in the center of the field, the last as part of the counterattack. Each attack of the capital’s team was frightening – so strong are its current performers.
The first Clasico 2022 rendered clear profiles. Real Madrid are a ready-made top team filled with stars, with a well-built game system. Barcelona is a kid who is just figuring out how to become an adult. But the main impression was left by the Catalans: Xavi’s tactical search should be the key to a brighter future.
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