Why FC Barcelona And Xavi Started To Use Four Midfielders – Especially For Big Games

First team coach Xavi Hernandez has found the winning formula for his FC Barcelona squad.

Whether Barca are scraping their way to 1-0 wins without particularly playing well, or blowing away the opposition as seen in the 3-1 demolition of Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final in Riyadh, the switch to four midfielders has proven a masterstroke for the Blaugrana.

Not only have they picked up their first piece of silverware under their former number ‘6’, but the Catalans also nurse a five point lead at the La Liga summit and are on course for a record-breaking 100 point title-winning campaign with half that tally achieved midway through the season.

Xavi’s four midfielders are Gavi, Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, and Sergio Busquets. Though Pedri began as the false left winger, Gavi has taken up that role in past games and used it to the great effect by scoring a goal and providing two assists in the mentioned Super Cup final.

As Javier Gascon at Mundo Deportivo points out, the 4-4-2 is particularly popular with Xavi as it gives his team control of the game and dominance in the opposition’s half.

It gets the best out of Frenkie de Jong, who dropped a big hint to his coach by telling Movistar that he is most comfortable in the system at the base of the midfield. The Dutchman can form a double pivot with captain Busquets there and put his ball-winning and playmaking skills on show. He takes a backseat, while Pedri and Gavi are more advanced.