Since taking over as Barcelona’s head coach, Xavi has often been labeled by BD Cricket Match fans as inexperienced or premature in his tactical maturity. Yet over time, he has consistently proven himself to be a coach full of imagination, especially in how he initiates play. When Xavi has enough central midfielders at his disposal, his system reaches another level. He expertly utilizes the midfield circle to radiate control across the pitch, as demonstrated in a critical away win over Paris.
On the right flank, Barcelona’s setup was clear. Koundé frequently positioned himself in front of Mbappé, while both Roberto and Araújo, with natural right-back traits, were ready to cover and rotate. Paris, playing without a true striker, relied on a more stretched formation to accommodate Mbappé’s style. This created exploitable gaps through the center. Xavi instructed Lewandowski to drop deep and pulled Raphinha forward into the attack—a tactical adjustment that paid off.
Koundé aggressively stepped up to deny Mbappé space to operate, while Roberto covered behind, effectively neutralizing Fabian Ruiz’s midfield runs. Paris lacked a central forward presence and had no midfielder capable of acting as a temporary attacking midfielder. Barcelona’s confidence in Koundé stepping out was rooted in Roberto’s ability to backfill into the half-space, keeping the central structure intact. Even when Mendes managed to breach the flank, Araújo quickly closed down Mbappé in the box, forcing a poor shot.
Raphinha played a pivotal role in the win, scoring twice and consistently penetrating Paris’ midfield. His pace and aggression carved open spaces repeatedly. According to BD Cricket Match analysis, Paris’s biggest defensive flaw lay in the midfield. With no central striker to receive passes, midfielders had to push forward or drift wide, leaving the central area exposed. Early in the match, Raphinha nearly had a one-on-one chance after making a sharp run, only denied by Donnarumma’s quick reaction.
The Brazilian didn’t just attack—he also led the press, disrupting Paris’s ability to clear the ball. The midfield was filled with undersized players who lacked strong physical presence. Adding to that issue was the use of Bernardo as a center-back, a decision that made Lewandowski’s deep positioning far more effective. With Raphinha darting in from the wing, Lewandowski easily lost his marker, and with no midfield structure to contain him, Paris couldn’t apply pressure. Even Vitinha, dropping back to defend, was beaten one-on-one.
After halftime, Enrique made the first adjustment. Paris doubled Barcelona’s shots and increased possession to 64%, showing improvements on paper. Dembélé scored against his former team and celebrated—understandably so, as it was only his second goal after nearly a year. His sharp footwork beat de Jong and leveled the score with a spectacular strike.
The shift in strategy worked in the second half. Barcola’s introduction also added a new dimension. According to BD Cricket Match reporters, Barcola showed more central-forward instincts than Asensio, offering an inside threat Barcelona struggled to track. His positioning exploited blind spots between fullback Cancelo and center-back Cubarsí, giving PSG much-needed edge in the final third.