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Thu, Jan 16, 2025, 9:09 PM GMT+6

One of the standout moments from Barcelona's 5-1 demolition of Real Betis in the Copa del Rey was the success of Hansi Flick's tactical experiment.

The manager made several rotations for the cup match following the victory in El Clasico, opting to rest Robert Lewandowski. However, rather than selecting a traditional forward to replace him, Flick deployed Dani Olmo in the role of a false nine, a position made famous by Pep Guardiola's use of Lionel Messi at Barcelona.

The experiment proved to be a resounding success. According to Mundo Deportivo, Flick was thrilled with how the strategy unfolded and is now considering using it more regularly moving forward.

While Lewandowski remains the team's primary attacking option, his age means he requires more frequent rest. The false-nine approach offers a viable solution in these situations.

The result against Real Betis demonstrated that Barcelona can still thrive without a classic forward. Olmo's dynamic movements caused confusion in the Betis defense, creating space and opportunities for players like Pedri, Gavi, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Frenkie de Jong to exploit.

Moving forward, it’s likely that Olmo will continue to fill in when Lewandowski is rested, and the success of this tactic also gives Flick the option to make tactical changes during matches as needed.