Raphinha's Reinvention Powers Barcelona's Attack

Hansi Flick tried and failed to land a marquee No 9 this summer. So he built one.

After Barcelona’s move for Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez collapsed, the German coach ripped up the script and pushed Raphinha into the middle. No Robert Lewandowski. No Ferran Torres. No orthodox striker. Just a former Leeds United winger asked to lead the line for a club that expects to win everything.

So far, it looks like a masterstroke.

“He is on another level – he’s unbelievable,” Flick said ahead of Sunday’s LaLiga trip to Levante. “When he’s like this, he’s, for me, one of the best players in the world.”

Eight goals in five games back that up. Raphinha has exploded in his new role, turning from touchline-hugger to ruthless finisher at the heart of an attack that has torn into the new season. Barcelona have opened with four straight league wins and a midweek Champions League victory, scoring freely and playing with a swagger that had gone missing in recent years.

Raphinha is the reference point, but he is far from alone. Lamine Yamal, Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi have formed a whirring, unpredictable frontline around him, stretching defences and leaving space for the Brazilian to punish any hesitation. It already looks like one of the most dangerous attacking units in Europe.

Flick, though, is determined not to let the story narrow to a single man.

“Raphinha, Gabby and Hamza are three different profiles, but there are other ways we could play,” he explained, underlining just how many tools he has at his disposal. “Anthony and Karim can also play in this position. Or Dani Olmo. Dani has showed us in last two years he can play there – the same with Fermin Lopez. We have a lot of options.”

That variety is Flick’s safety net. If Raphinha cools off or needs a rest, the system doesn’t collapse. It morphs. Wide forwards can step inside. Technicians like Dani Olmo can operate as false nines. Young midfielders such as Fermin Lopez can attack the box. Barcelona’s new coach wants an attack that can shape-shift, not just a team built around one hot streak.

While the goals grab the headlines, the foundation has come from the other end of the pitch. Barcelona have conceded only three times in the league so far, a stark contrast to the fragility that undermined them last season.

The defensive numbers delight Flick as much as Raphinha’s finishing.

“When I see the xG we have in every game, it’s good, but also the xG against us is much better than last season. It helps us a lot,” he said.

The data backs the eye test: this Barcelona side give up fewer clear chances, defend higher with more conviction and recover the ball quicker.

At the heart of that shift stands Pau Cubarsi. Still a teenager, the centre-back has grown into a mainstay, his maturity belying his age.

“For me, after the World Cup, [Cubarsi] played fantastic. For me, he’s playing on another level at the moment,” Flick said. “I am really happy he has the confidence, but also he’s very focused. With the body, he also improved physically. This is very important, especially for this position. Also with the ball, he’s playing really good, which helps us a lot, so amazing about that.”

Cubarsi’s development has given Barcelona a calm, ball-playing anchor at the back, the kind of defender who allows full-backs to push on and midfielders to take risks. With him organising and winning duels, the front line can attack with fewer inhibitions.

The balance is reflected in the table. Barcelona travel to Levante on Sunday with a perfect league record, two points clear of Alaves and three ahead of Real Madrid, who have already stumbled. Early days, yes, but an early marker all the same.

Flick’s squad arrives in Valencia in good shape. There are no new injuries after their European exertions, with only long-term absentees Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji missing from the matchday group. Continuity, rhythm, confidence – all the ingredients a title challenger craves in the opening weeks.

Raphinha’s reinvention has given Flick the cutting edge he feared he might lack. Cubarsi’s rise has shored up the back. The numbers say Barcelona are trending upwards. The question now is simple: can anyone in Spain slow them down?