Cool and confident Barcelona enjoy perfect start to season

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The victory was never in doubt versus Athletic Club

Lamine Yamal scored a great goal. Robert Lewandowski got another winner, making it two for two to start the season.

But early on in Hansi Flick’s Barcelona tenure, it’s the team unity that’s shining through.

Barca hasn’t dominated the first two games, but they found ways to get the job done by sticking to the game plan, and never panicking, even when faced with momentum shifts that could have reversed the outcome.

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Against Valencia, they went down early, then equalized before half-time, and then went on to dominate the second half, easily walking away with a 2-1 victory.

Against Athletic Club, they went up early, were unlucky to surrender an equalizer before half-time, and then once again were the better team in the second half. The winner always looked like it was coming.

And that’s a good sign for Flick.

Barcelona don’t look magnificent. They aren’t reinventing the game. They are keeping their cool with the knowledge that in most of these games, they are the better side, and the win will come if they manage proceedings wisely.

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It’s amazing to see who’s in the lineup that Flick is putting out, and the players that he’s used off the bench.

Iñigo Martínez barely played last season, and now he’s claiming a spot at center back alongside the young, talented, but inexperienced, Pau Cubarsí.

Flick is pushing Marc Bernal on and saying, I’m not going to find a replacement for you on the market, so go out and do your thing. You have my confidence. Bernal was thrown out there on his own on Saturday. Pedri was his only cover, because Flick opted to play with four forwards.

Up front, Lewandowski and Lamine are who we thought they were.

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Raphinha continues to put in the hard work, and makes an impact wherever you put him. Ferran Torres, honestly, is just a short-term stop gap to start the season. But it doesn’t matter. Because the team is more than the sum of their parts at the moment.

I loved seeing Fermin Lopez come on. He made the team more physical, aggressive, and balanced, right away.

Eric Garcia continues to be one of the first guys off the bench. Talk about a successful loan at Girona. If he sticks around, he could provide important depth and versatility throughout the long slog of the campaign.

And Flick himself looks calm on the sidelines. Like everything is going to plan.

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No complaints about the lack of reinforcements over the summer, although Dani Olmo will be making his debut soon. He just went straight to La Masia and found some new players that he could work with.

That’s to say that the system works. You don’t have to be a superstar, just buy into the winning culture.

I like this energy, and hope it carries on.

But this is the last week of the summer window. And Barcelona need to be realistic and make sure they reinforce the team as much as they can, while working to move on players who don’t fit the plans anymore.

Just seeing a Barcelona team that looks so steady is a blessing. They are acting like they’ve been here before.

But wouldn’t it be nice if Nico Williams were out there on the wing? Having a true specialist would give Flick a tactical strength that will be needed as he grows this team’s identity.

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Realistically, it’s not happening. And in light of that, the question will be how we can set realistic expectations for this team this season.

I’d love to see more of Pau Víctor. And I hope that Dani Olmo takes off.

For now, I’m just glad to see what’s looking like a culture shift. That’s what’s needed above all else.

Wherever it takes root, however, is the only thing that matters.

Keep planting those seeds Flick, and let’s watch this young garden grow.

Source: barcablaugranes.com