By Graham Ruthven

Barcelona planned for Julián Alvarez to be their new number nine this season. They spent the majority of the summer chasing the Argentine who, by all accounts, was keen on a switch to Camp Nou. So when the transfer window closed with Alvarez still an Atlético Madrid player, it raised questions over Barca’s forward line for the season ahead.

Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres’ departure over the summer left the Catalans without a designated centre forward. Gabriel Jesus arrived as an emergency signing on deadline day, although Barcelona’s rampant performances to start the season suggest there is no emergency. 

From a possible 12 points, Barca are setting the early pace at the top of LaLiga with a maximum 12. Even more impressive, Hansi Flick’s team have scored no fewer than 17 goals, netting five times in matches against Elche, Rayo Vallecano and Valencia. Barcelona have been unstoppable.

Raphinha has scored six of those 17 goals from a position few envisaged for the Brazilian. Deployed as a centre forward in Barcelona’s opening four fixtures, Raphinha has immediately slotted in as the solution that might be more than just a quick fix for the 2026/27 season. 

By moving Raphinha into the centre of the pitch, a spot has opened up for Anthony Gordon to operate on the left wing following his €80m transfer from Newcastle United with the England international key to Barcelona’s pressing structure. Gordon has been signed for his energy in and out of possession.

Gordon and Raphinha have struck up an immediate understanding down the left wing with La Masia graduate Xavi Espart establishing himself as Barcelona’s first-choice left back. Espart is more defensively resolute than Alejandro Balde and better technically than João Cancelo after joining permanently from Al-Hilal in the summer.

With Espart, Gordon and Raphinga forging a triangle on the left side, Flick has deliberately opened up the space for Lamine Yamal on the opposite wing. The 19-year-old’s game is based around the ability to isolate opposition defenders as often as possible and Flick’s entire approach is designed to make that happen as frequently as possible.

Behind this forward line, Barcelona have added Rodri as the security net they have lacked over the course of Flick’s tenure to date. The 30-year-old is the best player in the world in his position. He might even be the best player in the world full stop after winning the Ballon d’Or in 2024 and the 2026 World Cup Golden Ball. 

Barcelona already boasted one of the strongest midfields in the game, but the addition of Rodri will give them the sort of structure that was previously missing. The Catalans’ biggest weakness until now was their frailty in defensive transition and this is where Rodri could make the biggest difference, giving more freedom to Barca’s attacking players.

The Spanish champions will open their Champions League campaign against Feyenoord on Wednesday. Barcelona fell at the quarter-final stage of the Champions League last season and the semi-final stage the season before that. It’s been a full decade since Barca were last European champions and they badly want to end the long wait for continental glory.

It’s not just that Gordon, Raphinha and Yamal have turned the dial for Barca’s forward line so far this season, it’s that Flick has the depth to keep his team competitive over the full campaign. Fermín López and Dani Olmo can both operate in the attacking midfield role with Karim Adeyemi and Gavi also capable of making an impact. Jesus too if he can stay fit.

“It doesn’t change our thoughts,” said Flick after the dominant 5-0 win over Valencia when the subject of Barcelona’s lack of an elite-level centre forward. “We normally need a real number nine, this is clear. But we have huge quality in the offence, also in the midfield – everyone can score goals.”

Flick is right to point out just how many goals are contributed in all areas of his squad. In just four games, five different Barcelona players have found the back of the net. They are sharing the goalscoring burden across the team, but the tone is being set by the players at the top of the pitch.

What looked like being a compromise with wingers playing as centre forwards could now be the final form of Flick’s Barca. His approach has always been about speed and fluidity and by playing Gordon and Raphinha together as a dynamic pairing with Yamal a difference-maker kept separate from the rest of the frontline. By going down this route, Barcelona might have inadvertently reached an even higher level.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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