Barcelona Football Match Analysis

With the infirmary box packed, Flick turns to two defensive experiments.

Two holding midfielders.

Frenkie de Jong at center back. Bryan Fariñas, a

20-year-old, makes his Barça debut at fullback with the number

four on his back.

With the Dutchman, you might expect playing out from the back to be the main

strength. At times, it's exceptional.

As for his weakness, perhaps

the physical side. Wrong.

A masterclass in standing his ground,

winning the ball

and covering space behind Cubarsí when they tried to get in behind.

To Pau's right, a debuting youngster makes his first

runs down the

Camp Nou wing.

Reliable on the ball.

Sometimes you have to learn from the older players.

"There's one, there's always just one."

Or even from the younger ones. "I cut inside."

Even with the set-piece mix-ups, we have to follow the master so we don't leave two

opponents unmarked. Halftime arrives, and the excitement is all about the guy who

blows a kiss

and waves to someone, unaware that Hansi is waiting right there.

Kids will be kids. Hansi likes his creation, so

he takes the kid aside and, without saying a single exact word, tells him to relax and not

overcomplicate things. Then he calls out, “Frenkie,

Frenkie!”

To see if he can play ten more minutes.

“Can you play ten minutes?” Ten more minutes.

So: “Hey,

take it easy”.

Bryan listens and decides not to overcomplicate things until he gets carried away and seems to

start overcomplicating things, but he doesn't.

Then he gets even more carried away and returns a little backheel to Lamine.

The kid is having fun. Toni Kroos scores the sixth and Bryan heads for

Cubarsí. “I’m dead,

I’m dead.”

Eighteen minutes have passed, and there goes Frenkie,

to a standing ovation.

Congratulated by everyone and already teased by some on the bench.

And with the relief of the final whistle and the six-
one on the scoreboard, Hansi’s

defensive experiments have worked out for him again.