The ‘other rotations’ in Pamplona

Hansi Flick’s Barcelona the first points were left in Iruña of the season in the League, in a disappointing match because the German coach’s young team came very close to equaling the best league start in history.

One of the controversial points was that of rotations from the German coach, who perhaps did not correctly measure the difficulty of the trip to Sadar, a stage in which the local team always pushes and feels strong. Five regular starters They stayed on the bench, but other virtues that Flick’s team has usually had stayed in the locker room this time and did not take to the pitch.

1

FAST CIRCULATION

Barcelona did not move the ball with the usual rhythm

The attacks of the Barcelona team were harmless most of the time because the game was thick, slow and without the mobility with which spaces are created between the lines.

2

IMBALANCE

No danger was created by the gangs

Flick’s initial team was greatly affected by the absence of Lamine Yamal, above all, but also of Raphinha, whose mobility on the left usually creates many spaces for Balde, who was the other regular dagger missed by the team. Gerard Martín does not have his attacking qualities and the team noticed it. On the right, Ferran Torres was a real nonsense until the final stretch, when he unexpectedly almost scored twice, once after an individual play and another in a shot against the post as a center forward.
Koundé was, until the entry of Lamine Yamal, the only footballer capable of entering with danger from the wing. His were the best actions.

3

INNER GAME

The interiors, far from their level

If Barcelona was ineffective on the wings, on the inside at no time did they generate play to overcome Osasuna. Usually, the team acts with clairvoyance to resolve quickly and forcefully. This time everything was thick.

4

DUELS WON

The difference in the average, key to defensive fragility

Osasuna won practically all the individual duels, especially in the first half, in all sectors of the field. The average is where this difference in effectiveness in individual duels was most noticeable, especially in the average, which is key to explaining defensive fragility.
​That taking for granted, of course, the usual refereeing scoundrel, this time precisely in an individual duel with a very clear foul on Pau Víctor that Cuadra Fernández was happy to ignore.

5

VERTICALITY

It took many minutes for the team to truly break

Barcelona’s usual vertical game did not appear this time until well into the second half, unlike Osasuna, who knew how to take good advantage of their ball recoveries to mount quick and vertical transitions such as those of the first two goals and the penalty play. of the third.