Lamine Yamal is quickly becoming one of the most exciting young players in world football, and the next face of this sport. At just seventeen, Lamine has shown impressive moments of magic. But for all elite talents, maximizing their potential is not only working on their abilities and flair, it’s about fitting them into the correct system. So which formation truly brings out the best in him, Barcelona’s classic 4-3-3, or a more modern 4-2-3-1 setup which Flick also prefers?
4-3-3: Classic Barcelona Style
The 4-3-3 is not an ordinary formation for Barcelona, it has become an identity of this club. This formation has been used for years by Barcelona, originally inherited by Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff. This formation evolved as football modernized and was quite successful for Barcelona during their golden period under Pep Guardiola. In this formation, Lamine is positioned at the right-wing position, where he has ample space to exploit the opposition’s defense, it is favorable to cut inside and take on defenders.
Key benefits for Lamine in a 4-3-3:
📌A strong support from Kounde with overlapping runs when Lamine cuts inside.
📌Maximum width gives him space to bring full-backs near the line.
📌Midfield support from Pedri and Frenkie helps overload the right side.
The setback Lamine faces is that he has to track back whenever the opposition is on attack. He has to fulfill defensive duties, however for a young player still mastering the basics this could be another burden.
The 4-2-3-1 Formation: Flick’s preference
The 4-2-3-1 formation is an alternate form of 4-3-3. This formation is preferred over the traditional 4-3-3 by Hansi Flick. This season was another testament to why this formation is used because of the freedom it provides to the wingers. In this setup Lamine feels more freedom as an attacking midfielder or inverted winger. This system is more based on attacking fluidity with less defensive responsibilities. Flick has mastered the use of this setup at his time at Bayern. He knows how to manage each position which is another plus point for using this. This is the system where Lamine is well-fitted.
Key benefits for Lamine in a 4-2-3-1:
📌More freedom to cut inside and take a try or launch defense breaking pass.
📌The defensive responsibilities are much lesser, due to the double pivot.
📌Easier link to the striker and could contribute to goals/assists.
This season we have seen Lamine excelling in this formation. In the latest games against Espanyol and Villareal, we witnessed an insane finish from Lamine, he used the formation to cut inside and launch a strike from his dangerous left foot.
What Works Best for Lamine Yamal?
At this stage where Lamine is still young and in a developing age, he requires a system that gives him freedom. He needs a system that makes him comfortable to play in. A system that doesn’t burden him through the 90 minutes. I believe the 4-2-3-1 formation is the best for him. It is a formation that Flick has mastered and provides Lamine with more comfort up front.