BARCELONA FIND SOLUTION TO TACTICAL PROBLEMS

Barcelona are slowly returning to their impervious best with a 4-1 whitewash of Valladolid in midweek. The victory was masterminded by Argentine superstar Lionel Messi who scored two goals and created two in what was a perfect performance.

The match also showed that Ernesto Valverde has gotten the right formula that will make Barcelona successful, especially in the midfield. The addition of Vidal has given the team an ex-factor in the midfield.

It is nice having the likes of Authur, Frenkie De Jong and Busquet spraying nice little passes. There is a need for something extra since football is all about scoring goals. Vidal is an excellent tackler and a capable scorer which makes him the perfect person for the role.

During the dominant years of Barcelona, Iniesta a midfielder of different mould to Vidal was the x-factor player. The Spaniard dribbling skills meant that opposing defenders could not mark him while his passing was world-class.

Rakitic took over during the days of Luis Enrique, with the Croatia international boasting a nice passing range and tireless work in the midfield. However, he has steadily declined in recent years which has made the midfield look ordinary.

Valverde tried to shield this in his first season frequently using a 4-4-2 formation but the tactic led to boring football which was immediately the bane of the team. His decision to switch to 4-3-3 last season saw the team fail to dominate games but the individual brilliance of Messi and Suarez kept winning games for the team.

This season the addition of De Jong and Griezmann means that the club has added two mobile players. Barcelona can afford to play the quick tempo football they love to do without worries about counters. And if this does happen the energy of Arturo Vidal can cover lapses from the midfield.