Barcelona Test New Tactical Approach: Lamine Yamal Takes on Central Role
In a move that has sparked excitement and intrigue among fans, Barcelona's coach Hansi Flick has repositioned young star Lamine Yamal into a central attacking midfield role, drawing comparisons to Lionel Messi's earlier days at the club. The decision, first seen in the recent match against Real Betis, highlights Flick's willingness to experiment and adapt his tactics, and it could signify a long-term positional evolution for the 18-year-old.
Yamal has made a name for himself as a dynamic left-footed winger on the right flank, using his speed and dribbling to terrorize defenses. His ability to take on players, create opportunities, and versatility has allowed him to play as a striker, attacking midfielder, or on the right wing. Shifting him into a more central area represents a significant tactical change and a shift in how the club envisions his development.
The change is not necessarily permanent. Barcelona has natural attacking midfielders like Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez. However, Flick seems to be expanding the team's tactical options. The decision to deploy Yamal centrally provides a different dimension to Barcelona's attack, allowing him to conserve energy, receive the ball in more dangerous positions, and influence the game more consistently in the final third. This also allows Yamal to link up with other attacking players such as Roony Bardghji, Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford.
Hansi Flick expressed his satisfaction with Yamal's performance in the new role, particularly praising his defensive work rate and intelligence in interpreting spaces. Flick said he has not even trained him there, and that Yamal is intelligent and knows how to interpret spaces very well. According to Flick, the most important thing is the actions he has done in defence, and that he is a fantastic professional.
Despite the excitement surrounding Yamal's new role, some argue that comparisons to Lionel Messi are premature. While Yamal has the freedom to move towards the right side as an attacking midfielder, Messi enjoyed complete freedom across the entire field. Yamal himself has stated that he wants to follow his own path and not be a carbon copy of Messi.
The coming fixtures will determine whether Flick continues to deploy Yamal in the center or returns him to the right wing, depending on the team's needs and the availability of players. It is likely that Yamal will shift back to the right wing for the Eintracht Frankfurt clash. Regardless of where he plays, Yamal's versatility and talent make him a key asset for Barcelona.
The tactical shift also underscores Hansi Flick's commitment to Barcelona's young talents. In the game against Real Betis, Barcelona had their youngest starting eleven in La Liga in 95 years, with an average age of 23.34 years. With Yamal at the forefront, Barcelona's youthful squad delivered a stellar offensive performance, defeating Real Betis 5-3.
