Barcelona’s midfield shone the brightest in Europe this season, and it was one of the main reasons the Catalans enjoyed so much success. The Blaugrana midfield was a mix of wizardry, hard work, and La Masia magic. De Jong’s engine, Pedri’s magic, and Fermin’s late goals—a lot can be unpacked and discussed. Let’s dive into this fascinating discussion.
The Diamond in The Catalan Midfield: Pedri Gonzalez
He ran more than any outfield player in La Liga this season. He sprinted 15 km against Inter in the semi-final, then started again in four days against Real Madrid and dominated possession. Barcelona’s midfield ace player was 22-year-old magician Pedri Gonzalez.
The golden boy was a cheat code, the ultimate string puller and glue in Barcelona’s midfield. His preternatural ability to control games was a treat to watch for all fans. The Spanish midfielder proved that if injuries stay out of his way, he can single-handedly control the tempo of the game. And statistics speak of this. Barca averaged 65% possession with him, but the possession dropped to 52% whenever he did not play. This, my dear culers, is pure dictation of the game, and Pedri at 22 has already aced the art.
Barcelona’s Midfield Variety Trumps Quantity in the Modern Game
Barcelona’s midfield had so many interesting flavors this season. Frenkie was a press-resistant machine and a real engine. He helped defenders and tracked back, but also carried the ball forward. Marc Casado, who played the first half of the season, was a tireless devil. He made all the rough tackles and ensured the opponents did not get leisurely, even in their own half.
Fermin Lopez was the match-winning substitute. His late-box surges to disrupt defences and box-to-box gameplay were very fun to watch. Not to mention his wonder goal against Real Madrid, which was sadly disallowed, was a pure treat to witness. Dani Olmo was a luxury attacking midfielder who delivered when it mattered. Many of Olmo’s goals gave Barcelona three points single-handedly. The 2024/25 Barca midfield was stacked, and its versatility was unmatched.
The Missed Heroes in Barcelona’s Midfield
La Masia prodigy Marc Bernal suffered an ACL injury just at the beginning of the season. The youngster showed signs of promise but was sadly sidelined for the whole season due to the devastating injury. I think the youngster can become a brilliant pivot for Barca, as Flick had no pure defensive midfielder on the team this year. His 6’2″ frame and composure under pressure could finally let de Jong play as the number 8 he always wanted to be. The good news is that Bernal has progressed well and will be available soon.
Gavi was also not at his pure best this season. The 20-year-old played many games but mostly came off the bench. His energy and passion did not decrease, but the player lacked the quality he usually displays. Maybe it was due to the aftereffects of the massive ACL fracture he suffered last season. Hopefully, he’ll return to his best in the coming season.
Final Thoughts
Barcelona’s golden generation of midfielders might have just started this season. But to dominate in Europe, Laporta needs to solidify all departments. Just imagine: if Flick gets his system right and the players he wants, what monstrosity would he bring to Europe?