The system of four midfielders has increased Barça’s performance, but not all footballers are feeling the same way. A significant case is that of the attack. With an offensive trident, Lewandowski swelled to score goals, but now he costs more. It seems that the Pole notices the absence of Ousmane Dembélé, the reason why Xavi Hernández decided to vary the drawing. Instead, the other starting attacker has gotten stronger. This is the case of Raphinha.
And it is that the Brazilian has managed to score three goals and distribute two assists since he acts as Lewandowski’s partner in attack and has installed himself on the right wing, with a changed leg, but with the option of stepping more on the ‘9’ area.
Raphinha, maximum assistant of the Barça
Barça has played this 4-4-2 with nuances in four games: at the Betis stadium (1-2), at the Spotify Camp Nou against Sevilla (3-0), at La Cerámica against Villarreal (0- 1) and in the European visit of Manchester United (2-2). Eight goals of which Raphinha has been the author in three: he opened the victory at Villamarín, closed the win against Sampaoli’s men and saved the furniture of the 2-2 against the ‘red devils’.
In addition, he has distributed two assists, to Gavi against Sevilla and to Marcos Alonso this Thursday in a millimeter corner kick, to rise as the team’s top scorer. The man from Porto Alegre has 9 assists, two more than Dembélé (7) and three more than Jordi Alba and Robert Lewandowski, with six.
Lewy, better with trident
Just as Raphinha feels more of a protagonist, it happens to Robert Lewandowski that his rivals’ defensive vigilance has increased, in practice, by playing with one less striker. With the Dembélé-Lewy-Raphinha trident, the Pole had greater freedom of movement and the ability to appear from undetectable areas and show his tremendous scoring nose.
He continues to score because he is a ‘killer’ but there is no doubt that his performance has dropped. With the new system, his baggage in the four games with four midfielders and Dembélé injured remains in one goal with a good right hand in Heliópolis and the precious assistance to Pedri in Villarreal.
Of course, Lewy continues to offer imponderables to the team that are vital thanks to his work and ability to create spaces. Without being in his best habitat now, he is still the team leader.