
Barcelona – back to playing football that is happy, happening and hypnotic
Two numbers define the season of Barcelona, even if the figures barely capture the essence of them this season. A) They amassed 171 goals across all competitions with a La Liga week more to boost the number, the runaway best in Europe among the elite leagues. B) They caught their opponents offside 289 times, no one has mustered even half as many. Equally, a staggering 38 goals against them were ruled out for offside.
The numbers capture some of the striking aspects of their march: First, the prolific form of their forward-line. A revived Robert Lewandowski netted 40 goals in 50 games, Raphinha was involved in 59, Lamine Yamal stroked 18 and conceptualised 25. Then, the tactical intelligence of their dangerously high back-line to pull off the great off-side trap. But they don't depict the thrilling role-swap of their wingers, the artistry of Pedri, the ruthlessness of Lewandowski, the vision of Frenkie de Jong, the dribble gnome that is Fermin Lopez, the creative zest of Dani Olmo, or the cohesion of the back-line. Or the sheer joy of watching a gifted group functioning at the outer reaches of their verve and trickery, a blend of smarts from the alleys and structure from academies, football as an expression of joie de vivre.
Barcelona fans should not be strangers to glory and joy. But this was not as they had experienced in the era of Johan Cruyff or Pep Guardiola. But closer to the spontaneous and uninhibited delights that marked the days of Ronaldinho, the Brazilian wizard who inspired unadulterated joy, who smiled and put a smile on the face of the beholder. It is unlike any Barcelona iteration in recent times.
The methods of Hansi Flick are similar yet dissimilar to the principles of Cruyff and Guardiola. The fixation with possession is a common thread. Barcelona have enjoyed an average possession of 68.9 percent in La Liga. The defence maintains a high-line, the midfield is manned by supreme passers with a wide range of passing. But Flick's Barcelona is faster, more direct and vertical. Positional discipline—the soul of Guardiola—Cruyff manual—is not as adhered strictly to. So is the efficiency of through balls. The preference for homegrown talent, even though it is a consequence of financial strain, is another strand of commonality. The opening game featured three 17-year-olds. Throught the season, 13 academy graduates featured in different games.
It's not death by a thousand passes, but murder with a single bullet, cowboy style, precise and piercing. He has instilled the gegenpress from the German school, making them a feared transitional side in Europe. When they lose the ball, they unflinchingly hound the adversaries and reclaim it. Young legs help—they have the youngest squad, the average age being 24, despite the presence of two poles in the mid 30s, Lewandowski and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny, the latter cajoled back from retirement after captain Marc-André ter Stegen was ruled out midway through the season.
Once the ball is retrieved, they don't construct the goal with elaborate build-up play, but quick, sharp passing. Guardiola loathed such an approach in his Barcelona days, though he is experimenting a similar style with City these days. His Barcelona was akin to poetry that conformed to syllable-perfect rhyme schemes. Every note, tone, and accent was placed where it should be. Every individual had a specific role that he performed to near-perfection. Apart from the uncontainable genius of Lionel Messi, few had the liberty to act on his own whims. It worked, like the London Symphony Orchestra.
Flick's Barcelona is a fusion of orchestra and heavy metal. A team strumming to the synchronised chords before breaking up for a quick bass guitar solo. It's both Mozart and Jimi Hendrix. It's a triumph of both the collective and individual, both the system and individual coexisting in a harmonious union. Lamine Yamal embodies the idea of individualism. The 17-year-old is of such riveting talent that systems can't stifle him. He is a breath of fresh air in the system and structure obsessed modern-football. His game is born in the streets, which honed his ability to glide along tight spaces, and nurtured at the La Masia, smoothing the rough edges. His wondrous strikes, often at the most opportune moment, are a treat, each goal reel-worthy.
But more delightful are his one-twos with Lopez or wing-swapping with Raphinha. Lopez, only 22, is a trickster with the stealth of an alley cat. In the latest El Clasico, he and Yamal combined to produce scintillating sequences that left Real Madrid's defenders running circles. Raphinha was almost deliberating on exiting the club, before Flick revived him and gave him spatial freedom, unlocking his multifaceted skills. He can whip up pace like a conventional winger, break the lines like a modern one, score like a centre forward and assist like an inside forward. Barcelona, thus, could rattle opponents in many ways.
THE MOMENT! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/x1azKHAcBa
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 18, 2025
Similar to Raphinha, Flick revitalised the ageing Lewandowski, deemed surplus by Xavi and who seemed a yard slower than he was in his prime. Flick, though, utilised his aerial prowess by encouraging more crosses, hold-up play and clever movements. He was utilised as a classical striker, a false nine and a withdrawn one like Jurgen Klopp used Roberto Firmino in Liverpool. Like the fellow German, he infused togetherness too. 'The most important thing is you feel like a family. The atmosphere in the dressing room is so great; I've never seen this before. They really take care of each other,' Flick said.
Pedri too has been notched up a few upward gears. 'I feel liberated,' Pedri said. 'Flick has told me to play without pressure. He's very good with us, close to us, giving us confidence. Of course when you have to take things seriously he does. He has that touch of a sergeant major but he's lovely really.' The last reference was to Flick's emphasis on punctuality (for practice and team meetings) and the attire of players (no designer clothes, only team tracks in the club premises). But it's a happy team, and the happiness pours on to the field of expression too.
Whether they would scale the heights of Guardiola's Barcelona is uncertain, but they have rekindled the joy of watching the Spanish giants. It is a tale of two numbers as well as the smile they put on the beholder's face and the sheer uninhibited thrill they spark.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Jobe Bellingham signs for Borussia Dortmund, follows brother Jude Bellingham's footsteps
Jobe Bellingham follows in his brother's footsteps and signs for Borussia Dortmund on a five-year deal (Image via X/@Football5Star) Jobe Bellingham, the 19-year-old midfielder and younger brother of Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham, has signed a five-year contract with Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday. He joins the German club from Sunderland, following his brother's path who developed into one of the world's top midfielders at Dortmund before moving to Real Madrid in 2023. The young midfielder chose Dortmund over an offer from Eintracht Frankfurt, making his move shortly after helping Sunderland secure promotion to the Premier League through the playoff final. "Jobe is an extremely talented footballer with an impressive level of maturity and intelligence on the pitch for someone so young. We have no doubt that he's the perfect fit for our philosophy of developing talented youngsters and giving them the opportunity to improve and establish themselves at the highest level," said Dortmund managing director for sport Lars Ricken. The 19-year-old has signed a five-year deal with Dortmund (Image via X) "We've known Jobe for several years, and of course we have followed his progress very closely. He has taken another huge step forward in his development over the last year, and even at the age of 19 he has become a real leader," stated Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl. Poll Do you think Jobe Bellingham will be as successful as his brother Jude? Yes, he has great potential. No, he will struggle. Like his brother Jude, Jobe emerged from the Birmingham City academy and made his senior debut at age 16 in 2022. He also represents England's Under-21 team. His performances in the Championship earned him the league's young player of the year award in April, and he was named to the team of the season. Bellingham joins Dortmund after the team secured Champions League qualification by finishing fourth in the Bundesliga on the final day of the season. "We're delighted that we were able to complete this deal before the FIFA Club World Cup so that we can see Jobe in our colours for the first time in the United States," Kehl added. Bellingham will wear number 77 and is eligible to play in Dortmund's upcoming Club World Cup matches in the United States. Bombay Sport Exchange Ep. 6: Harish Thawani on cricket's TV market and the watershed moments The tournament schedule includes matches against Brazil's Fluminense on June 17, followed by Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa on June 21, and South Korea's Ulsan HD on June 25. Dortmund hopes Bellingham can make a similar impact as his brother, who nearly led the club to a Bundesliga title in 2023, though they fell short in the final game while Jude watched from the sideline due to injury.


Hans India
3 hours ago
- Hans India
Jobe Bellingham signs for Borussia Dortmund on a five-year deal
Dortmund: Jobe Bellingham has followed in his brother Jude's footsteps and signed for Borussia Dortmund from newly promoted Premier League side Sunderland. The England U21 international put pen to paper on a five-year deal with the eight-time German champions on Tuesday morning. Jude had also taken the same path and joined the Bundesliga side from Championship club Birmingham City. He went on to make 132 appearances for the black and yellow before securing a move to Real Madrid. 'I'm very happy to be a Borussia Dortmund player now and to fight for titles together with this great club. I want to play my part in celebrating success with these great fans here and will work on myself and with the team every day. And I'm very happy that I'll be wearing the black and yellow jersey at the FIFA Club World Cup,' said Jobe. Jobe began his career in the academy at Birmingham City and joined Sunderland in 2023, where he made 90 appearances. He will fly to the USA with Borussia Dortmund on Friday to take part in the FIFA Club World Cup, and during the tournament, he will wear the number 77, as confirmed by the club. Borussia Dortmund Sporting Director Sebastian Kehl said, 'We've known Jobe for several years, and of course we have followed his progress very closely. He has taken another huge step forward in his development over the last year, and even at the age of 19, he has become a real leader. 'His commanding presence in central midfield is remarkable, and he will improve our team in various systems. We're delighted that we were able to complete this deal before the FIFA Club World Cup so that we can see Jobe in our colours for the first time in the USA. He's fit as a fiddle and raring to go – he's determined to forge his own path at Borussia Dortmund and make his mark on how we play, and we're confident that he will do exactly that.'


United News of India
5 hours ago
- United News of India
Raphinha among world's best: Ancelotti
Sao Paulo, June 10 (UNI) Brazil national team manager Carlo Ancelotti has hailed Raphinha as one the best players in the world as the Barcelona forward prepares to return for a World Cup qualifier against Paraguay. Raphinha is set to start Tuesday's clash at Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo after missing Brazil's goalless draw with Ecuador in Guayaquil last Thursday due to suspension. "It's great that Raphinha is back," Ancelotti told a news conference on Monday. "He has shown that he is one of the best players in football at the moment." Raphinha enjoyed a breakout season in 2024-25 with 34 goals in 57 games across all competitions for Barcelona. The 28-year-old former Leeds United player has also been a consistent performer at international level and is Brazil's top scorer in the current qualifying campaign with five goals. "He is a very important player for us and could help us to unlock the game against a team that knows how to defend," Ancelotti said. The Italian manager had words of praise for Paraguay, which is currently third in the 10-team South American group, two points ahead of fourth-placed Brazil. "Paraguay is playing very well," the former Real Madrid manager said. "It's a very solid team and is not afraid to go forward. But we are going to try to play our game and we hope that we can make our fans happy." The top six teams in the South American group will automatically qualify for next year's World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. UNI/XINHUA BM