Barcelona & Ronald Koeman's New Formation - Recreation

[RDF Tactics]

 

The Intro:

Due to a tactical change, Ronald Koeman's men look revitalized under the new 3-5-2/3-4-3 system, which looks to have mitigated some players' weaknesses and improves key players' performances. The tactical switch has had many positive effects off the ball. They are now a better pressing side, and on the ball, the side looked to have found their rhythm and played some excellent fluid football.

Along with the tactical switch, Barcelona have been producing some excellent results. Most noticeably in their La Liga and Copa Del Rey 2nd leg matches against Sevilla, their 4-1 victory at home to Huesca and their biggest win yet, 6-1 away to Real Sociedad were we saw Barcelona completely dominate the game and put on a fantastic controlling display. Barca had 69% ball possession to boast with the victory.

Though it's still early doors with this system, we've seen the advantages of playing with 3 at the back has given Barcelona, especially with their press, as they can now man-mark their opponents out of the game, limiting the time their opponents have on the ball.

But what exactly has changed tactically?

The Better Press

 

Barcelona's press has changed and is now more aggressive and rewarding if the risks pay off. Messi and Dembele position themselves as the front two, which prevents the opposition's goalkeeper from distributing the ball to either central defender, and this force's the goalkeeper to look wide.

Forcing the opponents out wide or forcing the distribution to the full-backs immediately reduces the number of passing options that the wide man will have on the ball and creates uncertainty. The errors are forced because of the pressure applied by Barcelona's wing-backs, who look to engage and close down the angles the player on the flank has on the ball.

Another welcomed benefit of this new pressing shape is that it forces their opponent's full-backs deeper than preferred. Sevilla and Real Sociedad have full-backs who typically like to advance and are offensive-minded, but this system didn't allow them to be. They took up average positions deeper than usual during the recent matches against Barcelona.

Barcelona's new system also has seen them man-marking their opponents when they're trying to build, limiting the time each player has on the ball and effectively isolating those players. But the risks lie if the aggressive press is bypassed. Because of the man-marking system, this encourages defenders to leave their defensive area, which leads to gaps and possibly expose de Jong if he's to play in central defence in the long run (assuming this system is kept).

The wing-backs generally play an integral role in this system, both in and out of possession. This is also due to Barcelona using the flanks to progress up the field, freeing up space for the central players. When Barca builds from the back, the two wing-backs stay wider, but on different lines disrupting any press and offering themselves outlets so Barcelona can progress up the field and out of possession, they are vital in pinning the opponent's full-backs.

Given Barcelona's incredible average possession since the switch doesn't just indicate how well they can keep the ball but also how well they are counter-pressing once the ball is lost. Though Barca lost heavily in the 1st CL leg tie against PSG (not using this system), they still went to Paris believing they could put in a performance, which they did. The game ended 1-1, but Barcelona played PSG off the park, and their pressing proved too difficult for PSG, with them only having 27% off the ball. As each game passes with this new system, the players are becoming more familiar with it and certain player improvements are becoming more evident.
 

Conclusion

Whether Koeman chooses to stick with this system is yet to be known, but one thing is for sure, and that is that it brought a feel-good factor to those connected with the club. With Barca now chasing the La Liga title, which seemed a long reach just weeks ago, this system could be what they need to close the 4 points between them and the league leaders. It is also important to note that they have players missing, and with de Jong playing as the sides Libero, it will be interesting to see how Pique will fit in if he can.

This system offers Barcelona a lot of tactical fluidity, and they can rotate without changing the system too much. Jordi Alba and Dest are currently the sides wing-backs, but it's a job Junior Firpo and Sergio Roberto can do. The young talent Ilaix Moriba often features as a sub, frequently for Pedri, which indicates they could do a man for man swap in central midfield. Coutinho, Fati and Ricard Puig are even more talented players who can come in if the likes of Griezmann or Dembele need a rest.

Barcelona have been a great possession side with this system but Koeman doesn't shy away from being more direct and has players capable of breaking lines. The central players are enjoying more freedom and this is partly down to the wide men freeing space for them to operate. Barcelona have pressed high and aggressively immediately putting them on the front foot and with now just the La Liga to focus on, will Koeman win the title in his first year in charge?

Thank you for reading my tactical analysis of Barcelona's brand new formation.

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Edited March 23, 2021 by RDF Tactics

[Guv'nor]

Extremely narrow in the FM world, for obvious reasons, but in the land of the living, tremendous width...The wingbacks are nigh on wingers and then theres the centreback/fullback hybrid at the back. Nevertheless, good to see it given a go.

[RDF Tactics]

1 minute ago, Guv'nor said:

Extremely narrow in the FM world, for obvious reasons, but in the land of the living, tremendous width...The wingbacks are nigh on wingers and then theres the centreback/fullback hybrid at the back. Nevertheless, good to see it given a go.

exactly what I wanted with the CBs but wide attacking width encouraged too much wide play and also led to too many misplaced passes. It's really crazy how much one instruction can take effect on the whole tactic lol we're already open for counters and wider just left us exposed. Possibly drop the DLP to DM?

[Guv'nor]

Absolutely. Think a line of five or three players across central zones, is a near must-have to play with extreme width. Its  a challenge. Currently trying to work Pep's once upon a time Bayern behemoth, 3-3-3-1, the shape looked straight out of a Roman military journal. Head scratcher. 

14 minutes ago, RDF Tactics said:

Possibly drop the DLP to DM?

It should offer a bit more cover centrally and fill one of the gaps between the centre halves.