English Premier League
Rodri gives Barcelona control as Hansi Flick’s midfield plan takes shape
Rodri made an immediate impact on his Barcelona debut, helping Hansi Flick reshape the midfield and giving the Spanish side greater control in their victory over Athletic Bilbao despite having had very little time to prepare with his new team.
The former Manchester City player joined Barcelona only a week before being presented, but he was introduced in the 62nd minute on Thursday to a huge reaction from the stadium. His first significant contribution was a powerful leap in midfield to win an aerial ball, an early sign of the authority Flick believes he can bring to the side.
Flick has described Rodri as a “natural leader”, and the midfielder quickly assumed the role of the team’s main pivot. His physical presence and composure immediately resembled those of the great traditional central midfielders, while his arrival appeared to free Barcelona’s other players to take up more advanced positions.
Using Rodri alongside Pedri, Fermin Lopez and Dani Olmo, Flick switched Barcelona to a system built around one conventional holding midfielder rather than the usual double pivot. Rodri operated as the team’s sole defensive midfielder and became the first, and often only, outlet needed to play through Athletic Bilbao’s lines as Barcelona built from the back in a 4-3-3 shape.
The most noticeable tactical change involved Pedri moving naturally into a higher position. Fermin Lopez and Dani Olmo also exchanged positions during the match, giving Barcelona more fluidity in the attacking areas.
Karim Adeyemi and Lamine Yamal provided width, helping to maintain the balance of the formation. The approach produced Barcelona’s second goal after an impressive passing sequence gathered pace when the ball reached Adeyemi.
Adeyemi’s cross eventually fell to Fermin Lopez, who took advantage of a serious mistake by Aymeric Laporte to score his third goal of the season.
Barcelona scored only twice because Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simon was the outstanding player on the pitch, but the performance again underlined the team’s attacking power.
Two of Barcelona’s five matches with the highest expected goals totals in La Liga since Flick became manager have already come in the opening stages of this season. That statistic highlights the quality and volume of chances being created by the Catalan side, even though they have begun the campaign without an established first-choice centre-forward.
The goals are expected to be shared more widely across the team as Rodri becomes integrated. Raphinha, who has been operating as the central striker, has nevertheless made a strong start and has already scored three goals.
Rodri’s influence is also expected to extend into both penalty areas. Against Athletic Bilbao, he appeared to reproduce the understanding he has developed with Pau Cubarsi while playing for the Spain national team.
Barcelona have kept clean sheets in their first two matches, while Flick continues to insist that his team must impose even greater control during the season.
“Everyone is happy that Rodri is playing with us. He is the perfect player for us and our style,” Flick said after the win.
With the arrival of the former Manchester City midfielder, Barcelona should be able to retain possession for longer periods and will no longer need Pedri to remain permanently at the base of the build-up.
Flick does not believe there is any problem in combining the two players, while Rodri is understood to be highly encouraged by what he has seen of Barcelona so far.
