Playing and winning as a team. More than ever. For days Hansi Flick has seen that the number nine he asked for – Julián Álvarez – was unlikely to arrive. And for days he has been thinking, reflecting, and shaping how his Barça can aim for everything without the scorer he wanted at the front. He asked for Adeyemi and Gordon, pure electric versatility on the wings. And he thought of Raphinha as captain. The coach prefers to invest. To think about the future. And he has decided that, with what he has, he can aspire to everything. The German is not wrong. He proved it against Athletic Club. Generating more than ever on Unai Simon’s great night, impeccable under the posts. Finally, Raphinha and Fermín surpassed him on Lamine Yamal’s great night, who only missed the goal. Rodri debuted and Pedri shone as he always does at Barça. And, in defense, Xavi Espart shone again. Barça is a machine as a team. Seven goals scored at this start of the League. And without a number nine.
The recipe, beyond the coach’s tactics, lies in the motivation, which is undeniable in this group. Flick wanted to preserve Pau Cubarsí, whom he was handling with care to look after him after he was the best of the youngsters in the World Cup. But Cubarsí has his hunger and desire intact. The same as Xavi Espart, debuting at Camp Nou with number 12 on his back. Exuding a calmness that only homegrown players know how to convey.
His energy, his drive unsettled Laporte and, at the same time, encouraged captain Raphinha in a Barça that started very connected, daring, and looking for spaces and, as always, with a very high defense. Brave, determined to win the first home game of the season. Espart even dared to shoot in the second half.
The entry of Cubarsí and Pedri for the injured Gavi were not the only novelties in Flick’s starting eleven. There was a third: Raphinha was flanked, as always, by Lamine Yamal on his right and, for the first time and debuting at Camp Nou, by Gordon on the left. Espart, Raphinha, and Gordon showed, from the start, how they can shine in their new roles in Flick’s Barça.
To begin with, the Englishman’s diagonals are a delight. Shifting and seeking a supportive connection. He knows how to interpret spaces and see when one of his teammates is better positioned than him. Joining his bravery was the already known boldness of Eric Garcia in ball distribution from the right back and Fermín, moving like a hummingbird where it suited him. Offloading balls as needed. One for Raphinha. Another for Lamine, who is growing a beard and mustache as a promise in case he won the World Cup. He didn’t score but without a doubt the winger deserved much more. He pressed, made runs, and at the start forced Unai Simón to stretch for a shot from outside the area to send the ball to a corner. That save surely competes for the best of the day. There was more: A cross from Espart ended in a header from Raphinha that hit the post. Lamine was lurking nearby, but between Laporte, Hugo Rincón, and Johaneko, the left wing-back who debuted with the Basques, they prevented the goal.
Johaneko was the big surprise of an Athletic side coached by Edin Terzic, braver at Camp Nou than Ernesto Valverde’s previous team. The football of Terzic and Flick, the only two German coaches in the First Division, is very similar. Laporte directed from the back and the boos at Camp Nou were music to the ears of Nico Williams, whom the Barça fans do not forgive for not joining Barcelona. He faced Eric and set up a cross into the area that an imperial Cubarsí sent to a corner.
Pedri was missing to join the party. After a few minutes of adaptation, the Canarian settled next to Bernal, took control of the match, and shaped Barcelona’s attacking football. To the point that a goal was disallowed for positional offside by Lamine. He didn’t touch the ball, but the referee considered that the winger influenced the play. By the way, Gordon had assisted Pedri.
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The Canarian took to heart what happened. He got rid of Laporte, found Raphinha’s run, well marked between the center-backs. The Brazilian positioned himself, faced, dribbled Unai Simón, and scored at ease. For Lamine Yamal, again, Unai Simón’s back denied him the goal.
After the break, only Unai kept Athletic alive. There was a crossbar from Lamine. Gordon, resting on the left, received from Raphinha and his left-footed shot went over the crossbar. And Espart’s shot, in a good collective Barça move where Lamine ended up assisting Fermín, forced another intervention from Unai, very confident, who sent the ball to a corner. As if wanting to show the fans his superiority.
All this preceded Rodri’s entry. Camp Nou erupted with his entrance, along with Dani Olmo who again showed off his connection with Lamine, this time playing as a number nine.
Barça generated danger, but ran into the goalkeeper and the difference was only one goal. Athletic clung to their goalkeeper… And to Sancet who shot at the base of the post from the edge of the area. But the final blow was missing. Adeyemi came on, positioned to the left of Olmo while a cheered Gordon left. Barça’s other signing crossed from the left. Laporte tried to clear, but ended up turning it into an assist for Fermín. The homegrown player scored at ease. Unai Simón, for the ninth time, swept a ball from Adeyemi after a great unbalancing run from Lamine preventing the third. Time was up.
Flick smiled on the bench. The coach doesn’t have Julián. And Gil Marín, CEO of Atlético, may consider that Barcelona is unprofessional in signing players. That it is disrespectful. That it lacks ethics. But it is undeniable that Flick has a very professional team that will compete for everything again. All together.
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