Ronald Koeman and Barcelona's New Formation (Is REALLY Good!)

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.

In their 6-1 mulling over Real Sociedad, the team shaped up with ter Stegen in goal serving as a sweeper keeper. Mingueza and Lenglet were the two wide central defenders who were aggressive in winning possession for the side and progressed up the pitch with the ball in the half-space. Mingueza has been the sides top tackler since the tactical switch, and against Real Sociedad, he completed 4 tackles (the most on the pitch) and made 4 interceptions. In between the two wide central defenders has seen a new role for Frenkie de Jong. He's was deployed as the sides Libero and is another defender who will progress with the ball but even more so when making forward runs. The two wide players, Jordi Alba and Sergino Dest, have been in fantastic form, and though they are positioned as wing-backs, they serve more as a supporting role for the midfielders occupying the flanks. Dest scored two excellent goals, which demonstrates the high positions he takes up, and Jordi Alba ended the game with an assist. This new system has benefited both attacking full-backs as now