It's been referred to the structure used by Koeman in the post-PSG games as 3-5-2.
But really, it's like a natural evolution, a kind of synthesis previous structures he used, where he picked the best of each & added some adjustments.
This is from October-November :
It's the 4-2-3-1 during possession phase. Roberto (Right Back) w/ a conservative positioning, staying back to form a back 3. Dembélé wide. De Jong on the left side of the double pivot. Pedri as left midfielder, alternating wide combinations with Alba & tucking inside.
Then in January, the 4-3-3 that worked so well :
No more double pivot. De Jong positioned to the right side of Busquets, playing a new box-to-box role. Pedri in a classic interior role. Both helping form the central diamond that's IMHO the basis of Barça's good run of form since then.
So if you mix them you get the current formation.
With Mingueza playing that hybrid full/center back role. And still that diamond in midfield, with De Jong in his box to box role & Pedri supporting Alba on the left.
Biggest change is Dest's inclusion on the right wing & Dembélé's central position.
This formation seems to put a majority of players in ideal contexts. Piqué & Busquets are "protected", have less spaces to cover. It offers Messi midfield support and the presence of a "space creator" in front of him.
Main disadvantages is that Griezmann has been sacrificed and I'm not sure Lenglet fits the profile needed in that left CB position (lacks the speed to defend 1v1 in wide & open spaces).
This is a follow-up post to "How The New 352 Structure Led to a Crucial Away Win Against Sevilla" (February 2021).
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