Hansi Flick considering forward line experiment ahead of Barcelona clash with Real Madrid | OneFootball

FC Barcelona suffered successive defeats in the Champions League and La Liga against PSG and Sevilla, just before the international break. The Catalan side has not been used to losing under Hansi Flick, and this has come as a harsh reality check.

Defensively, Barcelona has looked vulnerable. Their pressing has been disjointed, leaving the high line exposed and allowing opponents to exploit gaps with ease. PSG and Sevilla capitalized on these weaknesses, dominating large stretches of play and leaving Barcelona chasing the game.

Now, according to Mundo Deportivo, Flick is contemplating a key tactical adjustment to revive the team’s intensity and effectiveness. The German coach is considering deploying Marcus Rashford as the central striker, ahead of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, to restore pressure from the front.

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The Englishman has given a great account of himself on the left wing, and Flick feels that playing Rashford through the middle could help apply pressure from the front.

However, to implement this, the German coach needs a fully fit Raphinha on the left, Lamine on the right, and Fermin in the no. 10 role. All three players are currently recovering from injuries and are expected to be fit in time for the Girona clash.

However, that fixture may not be the ideal moment to introduce them, and the Champions League game against Olympiacos could provide a better platform for this experiment. It would also serve as a valuable rehearsal ahead of El Clásico at the Bernabéu on October 26.

However, regarding the pressing strategy, if Hansi Flick implements this change, he might be better served by trusting Ferran Torres in the number 9 role. The Spaniard is arguably an even more intense presser than Rashford and has shown he is in good scoring form, although his efficiency in front of goal remains a concern.

It remains to be seen whether Flick experiments in the coming days in his bid to arrest the slump. Let us hope we see a refreshed Barcelona team after the international break.