Go with #theabelog. Barca misplaced multiple chances. We were the better team. Ability, quickness, we had that. The thread's a little piece and not similar to the previous ones. Buckle up for a ride.
• Not fully mastering the defensive aspect of the game, Marcos Alonso became the creator for Barca with his impeccable crossing abilities.
• Gavi, the most creative player by the most chances created into the half.
GAME STRUCTURE — HIGH PRESS & ZONAL MARKING
Both parties implemented the marking/Press. The moves behind it represent a very basic form coming with its ups and downs. Affecting positioning as contradicted to other reference points such as the ball, teammates or space/zones.
Game One — Effect Of Our Style
The negative to this, hitting us hard was Musiala. He's clever and moves into uncomfortable positions that caused problems as spaces opened in dangerous areas that the rest of the team struggled to cover. Musiala and Sané dominated that territory.
The Second Approach
The positives of this approach are obvious; you can limit the influence of Musiala within the opposition by marking him tightly and restricting him from playing through to Sané, but we did quite the opposite as Dembouz and Alonso had Sané in a 2 v 1
situation giving Musiala freedom. Christensen's positional awareness w/qiuck runs to meat up never gave rise to nailing Sané/Musiala, therefore he was out-paced. Most critical factor to the game, but the lack of pace to Sané wasn't ideal. He's quick and technical.
Bayern were quick in their buildup. Pacy wingers, a very important factor in their game and many numbers of their players never lacked pace. We keep up with them in the race. Something worth appreciating.
Both plays differ in the final third when talking Forwards. Wingers, looking to come inward to occupy the half-spaces/central areas in the attacking phase or there is the very opposite approach when the wide attackers stay outside and essentially stretch the game out.
Barça's creative winger were lost more oftentimes. Dembele & Raphinha all ball to a name " extremely energetic yet not creative" they were all lost for a long time.
The engine never fails to the team play. We outran Bayern.
The pliability of Bayern's system and approach to the game were qualified to take the pressure from Barcelona and then swivel the wave in the second half, and simply the strategy that won then the game.
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Pablo Gavi, The Relevance. One of the most commonly asked questions in the football world is "what makes Gavi crucial to the system, what does he have/gives" There is no magic formula but there are qualities. It's complex but this thread has answers
A Beast Thread, part 1.
In this thread, we are going to break down all the various aspects of Pablo Gavi which in a nutshell is his materiality to the Xavi system. Here, I got a table of relevant data and vids with player actions just to make things crystal clear and hope the thread serves useful.
Pablo Gavi — Gavi can be described as a reliably safe player in different moments of the play, as he would never endanger possession of the ball, both in circumstances closer to the penalty area that could lead to a possible counterattack
Go with #theabelog from Barça unexpected blow. This thread focuses on our low blocks, Xavi's structure with Roberto and Gavi seizing the half-space with Pedri in the attack. Buckle up for a ride.
Xavi was prepared for inter but our low blocks weren't. In the first game, we struggled to break past a low block of three but this time, Xavi change the setting and we were creatively superior in the third. The lows and one on top were no good to the game.
Barça played in a 3-4-3 diamond as usual and subsequently became a more offensive version of this Xavi's team.
Roberto, stepping forward into what became a diamond. Inter with the 5-3-2 looking to unite for counter since it's difficult to choose to fight for possession.
Go with #theabelog. Barça again were hailed for its unique and attractive athleticism. This thread focuses on our positional play, creative supremacy at the third and many more. Buckle up for a ride.
Barça played with a 4-3-3 shape versus the Sevilla side with a shape of a 4-4-2 diamond, which can slip into a 4-5-1 formation without the ball overloading the central area of the pitch depending on ability & qualities. N/Tough one for Xavi scanning its strengths and weaknesses.
Graphs — Players w/Most Influences On The Game.
• Araujo with the most distribution was a key tactical dynamic to retain spatial compactness effectively.
• Raphinha has shown a threat again with those penetrations.
• Kounde's P/D at the flank scratched the play creating odds
Heavily linked fullbacks who're considered to be in Xavi's inspiring project. "Are they good, how productive is he, Can any do the magic" Wonder no more & buckle up for a breakdown.
A Beast Thread
Borussia Dortmund Thomas Meunier & Villarreal Juan Foyth are so much more than your average footballer, and not only on the pitch: an art aficionado who plays as cleverly as the talks. Barcelona needs a fullback capably on taking down Kylian Mbappe? L&G, shall we:
Meunier & Foyth both play in a four-at-the-back system for both club and country, with the latter sometimes building up the play with a back three. Adept at a possession-based style within several formations
Raphael Dias Belioli aka Raphinha a stunning 25yr-old Brazillian who cut the eye of Xavi and is a great addition to his squad, having nearly same profile comparison to Neymar
Here is a breakdown of why Xavi signed this gem and how he would fit his style of play.
[A THREAD]👇
Players Profile
Raphinha has naturally played on the right-wing of Leeds's 4-1-4-1 formation stepping above his fellow teammates Jack Harrison, Dan James and Tyler Roberts on the attacking base
And also one of the main reasons Leeds finished not getting relegated from the Prem
Raphinha has worked with Bielsa who is famed for his high pressing, gung-ho style of football, which has fitted Raphinha, and his high energy has meant he never shirked away from the defensive side of the game as last season he ranked amongst the top 10 for...
Andreas Christensen a 26yr-old underrated Center Back a priority for Xavi's Barcelona for the upcoming season, already set a foot away from Stamford Bridge as a free transfer to Barcelona
let's dive in to know how this genius would fit in the Barca style of play.
[A THREAD]👇
Andreas Bødtker Christensen (born 10 April 1996) is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Prem League club Chelsea and the Denmark national team
And now in the Best club in the world FC Barcelona on a free transfer #barceolna
Christensen is a centre-back and is known for his calmness in possession and precise passing, as well as his aerial dominance.
In 2018, Chelsea Ex-manager Antonio Conte said the Dane had displayed "great maturity" adding that he has "a lot of faith in Christensen