Barca are right where they want to be with Bayern & Real Madrid waiting

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The Blaugrana’s dream start continues with another ruthless take down of a La Liga foe

Hansi Flick can’t seem to put a foot wrong.

It’s not that his team doesn’t make mistakes, they do. Like Barcelona teams of old, they play in a high line, and have been burned on several occasions this season, including against Sevilla to prevent the shutout.

The difference, however, is that mistakes are made in service of the system. They take risks in certain parts of the field, because the payoff is so big.

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This Barcelona team has an identity.

The way they are scoring goals is the result of the same patterns, no matter who’s on the field, and opposing defenses don’t know how to respond to it.

Once again, it was the front four causing havoc. The new addition, Ansu Fati, didn’t have a very impactful game, and yet using him, as opposed to a midfielder, was important in order for Flick’s philosophy to manifest on the field.

This team is a ruthlessly direct counter pressing machine.

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It goes to show that it has nothing to do with Barcelona DNA, or the character that we have seen for years under a variety of managers. These players can run and play with intensity. It works when it becomes a contagion.

That’s why I still think Raphinha has been the most valuable player this season.

He is the personification of everything Flick seems to be asking for. Without the ball, he runs, whether it’s pressing, or making runs over the top. With the ball, he is quick to play penetrating balls forward.

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Robert Lewandowski has never looked better in a Barca shirt because he is finally getting service.

Lamine Yamal is simply a rare diamond who, maybe doesn’t have quite the intensity of a Raphinha, but is pure magic with the ball at his feet.

This Barcelona team oozes danger.

It’s thrilling to watch, and terrifying to play against. The Sevilla players looked scared and helpless as, once again, Barcelona’s went after their opponent with an attacking onslaught.

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But the biggest tests are ahead.

And in my opinion, these games, if successful, could build a momentum that would make it hard to stop Barcelona across all competitions.

They aren’t just winning, they are playing like the best team in Europe at the moment. The only other team in a top five league to match success is Liverpool, who also lost once, but has played two fewer games.

But there should be caution this week.

Luckily, Hansi Flick will have the deepest roster he’s had all season when he takes on Bayern Munich, and then Real Madrid. He even was able to rest his best players at the end of the Sevilla match.

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But both the Bavarians and the Meringues will be a challenge tactically.

For all the attacking Barcelona likes to do, their opponents will be able to match it mano a mano.

The question will be whether changes the tactics, specifically with respect to the high defensive line.

You can just see Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior chomping at the bit, ready to make their mark at every turnover.

And that’s the thing, turning over the ball isn’t the end of the world for this Barcelona team. Because they have been so good at winning it back.

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It will be in those scrums, and those moments of transition, where the game is won or lost.

Barcelona will need all the confidence and intensity they can find. They will need each other. Every man putting their body on the line, with the expectation that the next man up will do the same.

They’ve done it so far this season.

But their vulnerability has also been exposed.

This week, the world will be watching Barcelona to see how good they really are.

Work hard, work smart.

Seize the spotlight Barcelona. You’re back.

Source: barcablaugranes.com