Coach Xavi Hernandez explains Barcelona formation change in opposition to Athletic Membership in La Liga

The Barcelona targets on Sunday had been scored by Ousmane Dembele, Sergi Roberto, Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres.

On Thursday, Barcelona beat Villarreal 3-0, this after the 3-1 loss to Los Blancos the Sunday earlier than.

What appears to be working for Barcelona of their final two video games is tactical modifications made by coach Xavi Hernandez.

Xavi started the match in opposition to Athletic Membership with 4 midfielders, Frenkie de Jong, Sergio Busquets, Gavi and Pedri, and used Ousmane Dembele and Robert Lewandowski in assault. Pedri drifted out to the left aspect, which made the Catalans dominate by seemingly having that additional individual in midfield.

In an interview after the match, a contented Xavi advised Diario AS: “Superb. We thought it was a recreation of depth and rhythm. We understood that they had been going to strain us excessive. We added yet another midfielder and at the moment we attacked inside.

“Ousmane was particularly good and the crew understood that. We gained duels and now we have been good within the first half. We had been good,” Xavi stated.

Diario AS then requested the Barcelona coach to elucidate why he used the completely different formation, Xavi replied: “We wished yet another participant in midfield. We discovered the prevalence and, as now we have matched their depth, that was the place the keys had been.

“In the present day we pushed out vast. We virtually performed with a double pivot. We confirmed solidity and it was a whole match,” Xavi added.

On Wednesday, Barcelona are in Champions League motion once they host Bayern Munich and it will likely be fascinating what formation is used in opposition to the Bundesliga champions, who gained the primary Group C encounter 2-0 at Allianz Area.