Barcelona, Spain – As we don reach the 14th match of the season, e clear say Barcelona don lose their secret weapon wey dem use last season to confuse opponents. This time, opponents don sabi wetin dem dey do, and na serious wahala for the Catalan team. The way wey dem dey start their game don change, and we go find out wetin dey happen.
The first matter wey dey cause this confusion na the way dem dey line up. Last season, dem dey play with three defenders. But now, na only two dem dey use to start the show. This change don shake the team small, as the combination between Íñigo and Cubarsí wey don click well before don start to falter as no be everything dey work like before again. As e be, dem don drop from an average of 160 short passes from the centre down to 142. No be joke o! Even dem no fit complete their orientation changes well again, from 20 to 14. Na so attackers dey struggle to progress from the side, where opponents fit pressure dem pass.
No forget say Pedri don turn to the team’s lifeline, wey don increase im passes from 72 to 89. The pressure na another serious palava, too. Barcelona no dey coordinate their pressure well again since dem change their style wey be say immediately dem dey use the nines to start pressing instead of the wingers. Rashford dey struggle to perform the way dem expect, and Lamine dey slow down due to injuries. As dem dey struggle with coordination and individual performance, the game dey loose balance and na so distances dey stretch.
And you fit imagine wetin happen when key players dey miss! Íñigo dey out, and now Raphinha dey play less, e fit bring depth but no be all dem wingers fit reach im level. Pedri own don join dem as he dey out now. Na the match against Elche, dem feel all these issues sharply. Dem manage hold 48% possession but end up making 207 fewer passes than usual. But at least, dem recover their attacking punch small – e be like say the Barcelona wey we know still dey alive somehow. We go see how long this Rock & Roll style go last before dem balance the team again.
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