Three goals, two assists, three starts
Six successful dribbles. Four chances created. Two penalties won. One assist. Karim Adeyemi’s Wednesday night against Racing de Santander, in a 7-2 rout, was the sort of performance that ends a debate before it properly starts.
Nobody at Barcelona saw this coming. His signing barely registered next to Rodri’s arrival, and he turned up in Catalonia with a reputation for discipline problems trailing him. Hansi Flick took him as a punt.
Seven competitive games later, six in LaLiga and one in the Champions League, the German has three goals and two assists. He has started three of them.
Try it for $0.99.
Exactly the player Flick was missing
The unpredictability is what makes him awkward to defend. Adeyemi punishes space when it opens up, and he can also squeeze out of a corner when two defenders close him down. Flick has thrown him down both flanks without a second thought.
The link-up with Raphinha and Lamine Yamal already looks worked out rather than improvised.
He was meant to be squad filler, roughly the job Roony Bardghji did last season. That plan lasted about a month. Jurgen Klopp has taken note too, calling him into the Germany squad for the coming international window.
The real question is who drops out
Anthony Gordon has been excellent since arriving, so the left wing is now a genuine two-man fight. The same thing is happening in midfield between Fermin Lopez and Dani Olmo.
Flick seems to enjoy it. He rotates, refuses to name a settled XI and keeps everyone slightly uncomfortable. Barcelona have won almost everything so far this season, which makes the method hard to attack.
So the doubt has shifted address. It is not about Adeyemi any more. It is about whoever has to step aside for him.
Discover the rest of the football news on our mathodds website and app!
in your pocket.
Real-time notifications & alerts
Leave a Reply