"What looks difficult on paper has worked in practice, largely thanks to their intelligence and tactical flexibility. At first glance, Olmo and Fermin appear to compete for the same role, as both are creative midfielders who like to play between the lines, arrive in the box, and influence the final third. However, under Hansi Flick, their versatility has allowed Barcelona to use them together without losing balance or control."
"The clearest recent example came against Copenhagen, where Flick had to rethink his midfield due to the absence of Pedri and Frenkie de Jong. Olmo was asked to drop deeper and operate as a central midfielder, while Fermin stayed closer to his usual attacking role. The adjustment worked smoothly and gave Barcelona the structure they needed to build their comeback."
"Against Copenhagen, Olmo looked comfortable in his deeper role and his vision stood out, especially with the pass that led to Barcelona's first goal. He covered large areas of the pitch and finished the game with an impressive 86% pass accuracy. Fermin was also tidy in possession, completing 91% of his passes. While he was not as decisive as in some earlier matches, his movement and energy still played an important part in keeping Barcelona on the front foot."
Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez occupy similar creative midfield areas but bring complementary traits that allow them to coexist without unbalancing the team. Olmo can drop into a deeper central role, covering large spaces and creating key passes, while Fermin occupies more advanced positions, adding movement, energy and high passing accuracy. Their partnership produced consistent wins, including strong performances against Celta Vigo, Athletic Club and Copenhagen. Specific match data showed Olmo at 86% pass accuracy and Fermin at 91% in Copenhagen. Hansi Flick must decide on midfield selection with Pedri still unavailable.
Read at Barca Universal
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