Hansi Flick’s masterstroke has unlocked a new scoring weapon at Barcelona
Barcelona’s style of play has evolved significantly under Hansi Flick, moving away from the traditional possession-based football the club is known for.
The current Barcelona side has become a more potent attacking force, particularly with the trio of Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski leading the charge.
This shift has made the team more dangerous in front of goal, with an emphasis on direct attacking moves.
Set-pieces have improved
Interestingly, one of the standout improvements has been Barcelona’s proficiency in set pieces. A remarkable statistic is that four of their last eight goals have come from corner kicks or free kicks, highlighting their newfound strength in this area.
This was evident in their recent matches, where set pieces played a crucial role in their success. In their Champions League encounter against Young Boys, Barcelona netted half of their five goals from set pieces.
The 5-0 win saw Raphinha capitalise on a rehearsed play to break the deadlock through Lewandowski. Inigo Martinez added another with a well-placed header from a Pedri free kick, and Lewandowski finished off a move.
Recent set-piece outcome
The Catalans continued their set-piece mastery in their 3-0 victory over Alaves, where Lewandowski once again found the back of the net with a header from a perfect cross by Raphinha.
These recent set-piece goals add to others scored earlier in the season. Against Valladolid, during their 7-0 triumph, Jules Kounde sent a corner kick into the top corner.
Yamal added another in the match against Girona, placing a precise ball from the side. In the Villarreal clash, Lewandowski was on target again, this time converting a pass from Eric Garcia.
Flick’s Barcelona have not only embraced a more direct attacking style but have also become a formidable force in dead-ball situations, turning set pieces into a crucial weapon in their quest for victories.