3 Things We Learned: FC Barcelona vs CA Osasuna

Barcelona cruised to a 7-1 win over relegated Osasuna, which included Javier Mascherano’s first goal for the club.

André Gomes

The Portuguese international put in an excellent performance with two fine finishes to top off the performance. They were playing the team at the bottom of the league, so there is the difference in quality to consider. However, the issue with Gomes has not necessarily been his quality, but rather his confidence.

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It was important that he scored so early in the match because it gave him the mental strength to start taking risks. This meant we finally got to see some of his potential with passing through the lines rather than safe horizontal passes. He also took on more responsibility to create openings in the final third. Another key factor was that he played in an advanced role due to being the point of the diamond in the 3-4-3. This gave him less defensive responsibility, which allowed him to flourish in the creative areas.

One of the issues with him has been his poor tracking back. In this formation, he had Sergio Busquets and the three centre-backs covering him, so he could focus more on his natural game. This not only helped him, but also the team as well because they were a lot more solid in the brief times they were out of possession.

The key focus for him now is consistently putting on these performances, especially against top quality opposition. His brief cameo against Real Madrid and this match have given a brief glimpse of his potential. Hopefully, he rewards Luis Enrique’s continued faith in him.

Rotation

Enrique decided to heavily rotate his squad due to this being an easy game based on league standings. This decision paid off with the periphery players thriving in the chance to play. Some of these players have struggled this season with two major examples being Gomes and Paco Alcácer.

This has cost the team points because they have been unable to rely on their squad depth. Whereas, major rivals Real Madrid have relied on squad depth, but their periphery players have been there longer.

The summer signings seem to be finally settling in, aside from Samuel Umtiti who has excelled from the beginning. One of the major reasons behind why these players have started to fit in is the strong team spirit. Key players such as Andrés Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Lionel Messi and Gerard Piqué are welcoming and supportive of the new and young players. It’s no coincidence that all the players mentioned graduated through La Masia.

There are other members of the team such as Javier Mascherano who have strong bonds with the young players. However, the close relationship that the first team has with the youth setup, and the focus on promoting players internally helps foster a good atmosphere. The team rallied around struggling players such as Gomes and Alcácer rather than isolating them as they got criticised.

The clearest example of this was when Gomes and Alcácer scored their goals, there was genuine happiness among the team as they rushed to congratulate the players. Another example is the positive response during and after the match for Mascherano finally getting his first goal for the club.

Ivan Rakitić

Rakitić looks to have found form for the end of the season after an average year compared to his other two seasons at the club. The Croatian midfielder has struggled at times this season, but looks a lot more at ease in the 3-4-3 formation. This could be due to Sergi Roberto’s inexperience in the right-back role, which means he has to a lot more covering when they are playing a 4-3-3 setup.

In the previous seasons, he had been able to rely on the experienced Dani Alves. However, with Roberto he has to be wary of pushing too far forward and leaving Roberto exposed. The blame can’t be placed on Roberto, though, because he is playing completely out of position.

Using the 3-4-3 allows Rakitić to play higher up the pitch due to the defensive cover, and this means he has less area to cover. This suits him because he has more time in dangerous areas as evidenced by his display in this match.

El Clásico was somewhat of an anomaly because they played 4-3-3, but Busquets and Iniesta put in masterclass performances. The control they were able to exert in the midfield meant that the Croatian was able to focus on his attacking duties. His rocket shot from the edge of the box, to pull Barcelona ahead, was an example of the danger he possesses in the final third. In other matches, Iniesta and Gomes have struggled, which placed too much responsibility on Rakitić and Busquets.

Next: Rakitic Post match Comments

These performances serve as a timely remainder that he still has a major role in the squad. The new manager has big decisions to make regarding formation and style of play. Rakitić deserves to be part of this due to his tactical flexibility, selflessness and creativity.