The (non-refereeing) reasons that have made Barça the leader again

BarcelonaBarça is once again the leader of the league championship. The victory against Rayo, by the minimum and full of arbitration controversy, does not hide the fact that Flick's team has recovered certain elements of the game that captivated everyone in the first weeks of the season. It is true that Barça lost the thread in certain games, but the current feeling is that the idea has matured and that now the team coached by the German coach has things very clear.

The high pressing and after losing the ball, without being as suffocating for the opponent as at the start of the competition, has improved in relation to the most delicate moments of the season. This allows the team to continue insisting on the defensive line very high, magnificently calibrated by Iñigo and Cubarsí. The starting centre-backs of Barça, despite lacking the conditional virtues of Araujo, have a much wider range of tactical registers. They, among other things, understand perfectly who should mark the offside line depending on where the opponent has the ball.

The importance of the central pairing of Iñigo and Cubarsí

Barça also builds much better with the ball. when the central defenders are Iñigo and Cubarsí. Even when Eric has played against teams that did not press high and did not have fast and powerful forwards in space. In the middle of the field, the dynamic has changed with the entry of De Jong for Casadó and with the notable presence of Gavi in place of Dani Olmo, who should not be forced. It is a new combination of profiles that has not necessarily made Barça a more harmonious and dominant team in this area, although Gavi has more than demonstrated that he has football as an important player in Flick's schemes.

Frenkie de Jong's case is more controversial because he has an army of sycophants ready to celebrate with fireworks every minimally good pass he makes and all his interventions that do not excessively hinder the ball circulation of their team. They are the same ones who have considered him one of the top 3 midfielders in Europe for more than five years, when easily, during this same period, we have seen at least three dozen midfielders of greater or greater level in their respective teams.

On the other side of the trench there are also many people who consider the Dutchman one of the most insubstantial players who have passed through Barça. In fact, that has been the case until now, but it is also true that the last few games, not counting the one against Rayo, have served to see a more contained, and therefore better, version of the footballer who shone at Ajax. De Jong can be a valuable asset in Flick's Barça, but right now Flick's Barça can't and won't play the way De Jong sees football. For example, the team doesn't need the Dutchman to constantly approach Iñigo and Cubarsi to touch, knead and take it out. It's not necessary, and in most scenarios it won't be necessary because Barça's centre-backs are absolutely capable. Normally you'll need this midfielder at another height on the pitch.

Pedri's formidable season

The common denominator in the midfield is called Pedri. He has had a great season. Pedri is the pause, but also the acceleration when necessary. He leads the way, sets the pace and orders the team with his passes. He has an extraordinary talent for taking care of the ball, getting out of pressure, playing it how and when it is necessary and making life easier for his teammates. Pedri's passes already indicate to whoever receives it how the next action should be. Flick's Barça, beyond a powerful and attractive collective idea, also lives off the magnificent form and level of many of its players, and Pedri is the most obvious example.