Flick’s evolved Barcelona system produced 127 league goals, 104 points and a domestic treble with three different possession structures.
FC Barcelona have begun the 26/27 season fantastically, winning every single one of their games thus far.
This brilliant, early-season form is the result of a brilliant evolution of their system under Hansi Flick, inspired by the arrivals of Rodri and Anthony Gordon, along with the emergence of Xavi Espart at left-back.
Having already scored 5+ goals in 4 games this season, their emphatic, attacking football has remained in place - however, the structures they form when in possession have completely changed from the last two seasons, as I will showcase to you below…
Three New Set-Ups
Since his arrival in 2024, Hansi Flick has largely set his team up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, which transforms into a 3-2-5 formation with the left-back advancing into the frontline.
This shape would give Barça a midfield box in central areas, allowing for seamless, quick progression through the lines. You can see that previous system in our FM26 Hansi Flick Barcelona tactic recreation.
However, this season, it appears as though this configuration has been scrapped.
So far this season, three core shapes have defined Barcelona’s attacking play, from an adapted 4-3-3 base: a 3-3-4 shape, a 3-diamond-3 shape, and an alternative 3-2-5 shape.
In the 3-3-4 shape, the left-back will largely move higher whilst the right-back will invert to form a solid back-three base for the team.
The striker, Raphinha, will tend to drop into the right side of the attack, whilst Pedri - the left-sided central midfielder - will move into the left half-space.
This creates a 3-3-4 shape in possession, with the wide combinations in triangles a headlining act:
In the 3-diamond-3 shape, the left-back will - again - advance higher and, this time, wider to move into a typical ‘left-winger’ position.
This allows Anthony Gordon, the actual left-winger, to move inside and into a typical striker position, whilst Raphinha - the actual striker - drops to be at the tip of the central diamond:
In the alternative 3-2-5 shape, the left-back will - once more - advance higher, however, he will then invert into the left half-space, allowing Gordon to hold the width on the left flank.
As a result of this, Pedri will drop deeper to support Rodri in build-up to form the 3-2 base, as Koundé inverts to form the back-three:
Ruthless Raphinha
The Brazilian is back to being Barcelona’s main man, beginning the season in terrifyingly good form: 14 goals and 3 assists in just 8 games in all competitions… absolutely incredible numbers!
The key to this has been his emergence as the side’s new ‘striker’.
In the summer just gone, both of Barça’s previous frontmen departed, in Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres.
Instead of dipping into the transfer market to find a new, star striker to replace the pair, Hansi Flick has thought outside of the box and uncovered Raphinha as the side’s new ‘striker’.
This is an interesting evolution from Raphinha’s previous left-sided ‘inside forward’ role in 24/25, wherefrom he grabbed 34 goals and 26 assists across 57 games in all competitions.
By playing the Brazilian up front, Flick can maximise Raphinha’s elite off-ball movement, runs in-behind, and unique predatory instincts in the penalty area.
Let’s Break Down the Tactic
In Possession
In build-up, Barça will look to play through the opposition’s pressure as frequently as possible, using shorter passes to attract and, eventually, play through the press.
Upon progressing beyond the build-up phase, Flick instructs his team to focus further on passing moves to draw the opposition higher.
This creates space in-behind the opposition’s defence, which Flick wants his side to readily pass into for the forwards/runners in-behind to chase.
In the final third, Barça will patiently work the ball into the penalty area, waiting for the right pass and/or movement.
In general, Barcelona are a dynamic, possession-based side, continuing a philosophy that has defined many of the club’s greatest teams, including the system recreated in our Pep Guardiola 2010/11 Barcelona tactic.
They stretch teams as wide as possible to open gaps in the half-spaces for runners to penetrate, whilst Flick also gives his team the licence to be more expressive and even roam from their respective positions.
I chose the ‘Lower’ tempo to encourage the team to be more thoughtful in their passing choices, as higher tempos - combined with the ‘Attacking’ mentality - will lead to your players thoughtlessly being more direct.
In testing, we averaged a league-high 63% possession per 90… but still showed immense creativity in generating 82.13 non-penalty xG across the course of the league campaign.
Out of Possession
Without the ball, Barcelona are freakishly intense, relentlessly closing down their opposition at any opportunity.
To supplement this high-press, the defensive line will hold a very high line to compact the space in midfield - additionally, the defensive line will regularly step up to trigger the offside trap.
To further compact the playing space for the opposition, Barça will look to force passes wide, particularly once the opposition have bypassed the side’s initial, intense press.
Furthermore, Barça will invite crosses into the penalty area to retain central compactness.
Upon losing the ball, Barça will immediately counter-press, regardless of the potential danger in doing so.
Opposition Instructions
Player Roles
Ball-Playing Goalkeeper | Sweeper Keeper
In this system, when the side has the ball, Joan García will position himself higher to become more involved in the team’s build-up play.
Without the ball, García is always ready to jump out of his penalty area to sweep any loose balls in-behind the high Barça backline.
Inside Full-Back | Pressing Full-Back
On the right side of defence, the right-back will typically stay deeper to help form the team’s back-three in possession - however, the right-back has showcased a tendency to advance forward to support the team’s right-side attacks.
This was particularly seen in Barça’s 5-2 win against Rayo Vallecano, as Koundé regularly bombed forward high and wide.
The right-back will usually keep things simple with the ball at his feet, largely focusing his passing on supplying Lamine Yamal with the ball to work his magic.
Without the ball, both full-backs are incredibly aggressive in stepping up to close down near-side wide players, whether that be wingers who are staying wide or full-backs who receive the ball with space to carry into.
(DCR) Ball-Playing Centre-Back | Centre-Back
Both centre-backs, in this system, are very comfortable with the ball at their feet - both centre-backs will readily break the lines with deep, progressive passes too.
However, Cubarsí, on the right, will tend to keep his passes shorter than his defensive team-mate.
(DCL) Ball-Playing Centre-Back | Centre-Back
On the other hand, the left-sided centre-back will be a bit more direct at times.
Additionally, he will tend to drift wider in possession, too.
Wing-Back | Pressing Full-Back
Xavi Espart is La Masia’s latest graduate, and the 19-year-old is already impressing in the Barça first-team.
In this particular system, Espart will tend to move higher and wider to help form Barça’s left-side wide triangle - upon receiving the ball, he will tend to cut inside onto his stronger right foot.
Half-Back | Defensive Midfielder
Rodri may well prove to be the final piece of the puzzle for Barcelona, as he brings the team something it heavily lacked: defensive intuition and intelligent positioning.
So far, Rodri has largely been responsible for providing exactly that, whilst also offering himself as a reliable base as a single pivot in Barça’s adapted 4-3-3 formation.
In this system, he can tend to drop into the backline to create a back-four in possession; this was particularly seen in Barça’s 5-1 win against Feyenoord.
Attacking Midfielder | Attacking Midfielder
In this particular system, the right-sided central midfielder acts as the team’s channel runner and can interchange this duty with Raphinha, who will also move into the channels.
However, the right-sided central midfielder isn’t restricted to this; he will also roam from his position and can also drift wider to link with Lamine Yamal on the right.
This was showcased in Barça’s 0-5 win against Valencia as Olmo assisted Yamal for the opener, whilst also having the ability to create for those around him.
Without the ball, the entire front four close down the opposition relentlessly in an aggressive manner.
Advanced Playmaker | Defensive Midfielder
On the other side, Pedri will largely operate between the lines, coming towards the ball to create space for the likes of Raphinha, Gordon, and the right-sided central midfielder to exploit.
Additionally, like the right-sided central midfielder, Pedri is given licence to roam from his position.
Upon receiving the ball, Pedri will tend to take on his man and drive forward with the ball at his feet.
The interaction between roles such as these is exactly why understanding FM26 player role combinations and synergy is so useful when recreating real-world systems.
Wide Forward | Wide Outlet Winger
On the right side, Yamal will initially start wider before tucking slightly inside - this creates space for the right-back to advance into.
What’s been quite noticeable about Barça’s front three this season has been the sheer amount of roaming from the front three in particular, as you’ll often see the players switching positions dynamically.
Upon receiving the ball, Yamal will do anything to create for himself and/or his team-mates, whether that be through taking on his man or finding a runner in-behind with a great through ball…
Both wingers, without the ball, will stay higher and wider to be in optimal positions for the counter-attack once Barça win back the ball.
Inside Forward | Wide Outlet Winger
On the left side, Gordon will largely move inside to be in an optimal position to regularly attack the space in-behind the opposition’s defence.
Upon receiving the ball, he will consistently look to take on his man before cutting inside.
Shadow Striker | Centre Forward
In this system, Raphinha will initially position himself deeper and wider to help form the right-sided wide triangle before readily attacking the space in-behind.
Upon receiving the ball, he has showcased a fantastic flair to his game so far this season through dribbling.
Results
La Liga
In testing with Barcelona on FM26, we ended up destroying La Liga, winning the league at a canter: 104 points; 34 wins; 2 draws; 2 defeats; 127 goals; just 24 goals conceded… it was outrageously dominant.
Domestic Cups
We made it a domestic double by winning the Supercopa de España, defeating rivals Real Madrid 1-3 in the Final.
To reach the Final, we were obliged to beat Atletico Madrid, and we did just that by winning 0-3.
We then went on to make it a domestic treble, winning the Copa del Rey after beating Girona 1-4 after extra time!
On our way to the Final, we overcame the likes of Real Madrid, again, (5-4 AGG) and Atletico Madrid, again, (3-2 AET).
Conclusion
We’re less than two months into the 26/27 season and, already, we can identify a strong contender for the UEFA Champions League this season, as FC Barcelona have begun the season in electrifying fashion.
With a unique tactical evolution and intuitive squad building at the forefront, La Blaugrana look a different beast so far this campaign, and it will take some team to stop them from winning it all come May.
If you want a taste of this beautiful tactic, make sure to download the tactic using the link attached to this article and make sure to follow FM Blog (@fmbIog) and myself (@AshtonGgmu) on our respective socials.
I hope you have enjoyed this article, and I wish you much success with this tactic on your saves! Thanks for reading!
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