CORNERFLICK
Barcelona may still be without a traditional centre-forward, but Hansi Flick has found a way to turn his side into a devastating attacking force — and the emphatic 5-0 victory over Valencia was the clearest evidence yet.
Barcelona have made a spectacular start to the new La Liga season under German coach Hansi Flick, producing some outstanding attacking football along the way. The Catalans have won all four of their opening matches, collecting maximum points and moving to the top of the table.
But it is not just the results that have caught the eye. Barcelona currently boast the most prolific attack in the league, scoring 17 goals while conceding just two. That works out at more than four goals per game.
Their explosive start is even more remarkable given the attacking talent that departed during the summer. Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford all left the club after combining for 54 goals last season.
Barcelona also failed in their pursuit of Argentine striker Julian Alvarez, one of the club’s leading targets to strengthen the attack.
Yet Flick has found another solution. Rather than relying on a conventional No.9, he has transformed his forwards and attacking midfielders into a fluid, interchangeable unit — one that does not need a traditional striker occupying the penalty area.
**Raphinha Thriving as a False Nine ** One of Flick’s most significant tactical decisions has been deploying Raphinha as a false nine.
The role gives the Brazilian greater freedom to move between the lines, attack space and find shooting positions closer to goal. The Barcelona captain has responded in spectacular fashion, scoring six goals to move to the top of the La Liga scoring charts.
His pace, technical quality, intelligent movement and ability to shoot from different areas have made him ideally suited to Flick’s system.
Rather than remaining centrally positioned like a traditional striker, Raphinha regularly drops deep or drifts wide, creating spaces for his team-mates to exploit.
**Fermin Lopez: Flick’s Surprise Weapon ** Fermin Lopez has also become a crucial part of Barcelona’s new-look attack.
Flick has trusted the young midfielder with a prominent role behind the forwards, allowing him to interchange constantly with Raphinha. Their movement creates uncertainty for opposition defenders, particularly when Fermin makes late runs into the penalty area.
The tactical adjustment has also transformed his goalscoring output. With four goals already this season, Fermin has emerged as one of Barcelona’s most dangerous attacking threats.
**Anthony Gordon: A Key Summer Signing ** The €80 million arrival of English winger Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United was one of Barcelona’s biggest moves of the summer.
Gordon is still waiting for his first goal, but his influence has already been significant. With four assists, he currently leads La Liga’s assist charts and has quickly established himself as one of Barcelona’s main creative outlets.
Flick’s confidence in Gordon has helped the England international adapt rapidly to Barcelona’s style, while his direct running and pace have given the team another dangerous option out wide.
**Lamine Yamal Back to His Best ** Another major factor behind Barcelona’s attacking explosion has been Lamine Yamal’s return to form.
After a relatively quiet start, the Spanish youngster has rediscovered his influence in the final third and has already scored four goals.
Yamal remains one of the most important pieces of Flick’s project, particularly as Barcelona look to compete for major honours on every front, with the Champions League once again among their biggest ambitions.
**Flick’s Formula for Barcelona ** Flick has compensated for the absence of a traditional centre-forward through constant movement, positional rotations, intelligent interchanges and multiple sources of goals.
As a result, Barcelona are no longer dependent on one striker to carry the scoring burden. Instead, they have evolved into a multidimensional attacking side in which almost any player arriving in the final third can become a genuine threat.
That may be Flick’s greatest achievement in the early weeks of the season.
He has transformed Barcelona from a team searching for a No.9 into one where the system itself effectively plays that role.