Barcelona have won all three of their opening La Liga fixtures, and their attack has been ferocious — 12 goals scored across those three games, two more than Real Madrid’s much-discussed strike force managed in the same span. They currently top the table on goal difference, and this summer’s new signings deserve real credit for that. Here’s a closer look at how Barça’s attack has changed after this window’s business.
Solving the centre-forward gap: the false-nine tactic is paying off unexpectedly well
Going into the season, the biggest worry around Barcelona was the lack of a genuine, traditional number 9. With Lewandowski gone, they then sold their only remaining recognized centre-forward, Ferran Torres, to PSG — and while Torres carries a slightly odd reputation as a player who’s better off the bench than starting, he was still the club’s one true striker, so plenty of people worried this would leave them exposed up front heading into the new campaign.
It’s not that Barcelona didn’t try to address it. Over the summer, a transfer saga around Atlético Madrid’s star man, nicknamed “the Little Spider,” Julián Álvarez, dominated headlines — arguably the biggest drama of the whole window. In the end, Atlético refused to let him go and had solid contractual ground to stand on, so the move collapsed. Honestly, Atlético’s stance made complete sense — they and Barcelona are direct title rivals in La Liga, and handing a rival your best player does nothing for you. After that deal fell through, Barcelona squeezed in a deadline-day signing of Gabriel Jesus, which more or less papered over the gap at centre-forward.
But judging by the 12 goals scored across the first three rounds, it turns out Barcelona’s current starting lineup and tactical setup don’t really need a traditional number 9 at all — the frontline has looked genuinely excellent operating as a false nine (or “fluid nine”).
Anthony Gordon: the left-side lubricant unlocking the whole attack
This summer’s signing Anthony Gordon has been an absolute bargain through the first three games — he hasn’t scored yet, but he’s already racked up three assists. He puts real pressure on the left side, whether dribbling at defenders, pressing, or passing — his presence is felt constantly, and he’s perfectly patched over Barça’s previous lack of a genuine left-sided threat, which used to let opponents concentrate their defensive attention on the right. His ability to stretch defenses on the left has also given star man Yamal on the right far more room to operate — where Yamal used to routinely face multiple defenders at once, with both flanks now a genuine threat he gets double-teamed far less often, letting him fully unleash his 1-on-1 dribbling.
Beyond Yamal, the player benefiting most is Raphinha, currently operating as the false nine — his sharp movement off the ball has already brought him 5 goals, putting him top of La Liga’s scoring charts. On the pitch, you can repeatedly see this front three rotating and interchanging with attacking midfielder Dani Olmo, pulling defenses apart — with no fixed centre-forward, their movement is actually freer, always able to run in behind, cut inside, or get to the byline for a cutback. The 12 goals scored so far speak for themselves about how well this tactic is working. And now that Gabriel Jesus is in the squad, there’s an extra option for when the team needs to break down a stubborn low block.
Overall, this Barcelona frontline may not have quite the star wattage of cross-town rival Real Madrid’s, but the results it’s produced have if anything been even better — football was never just about stacking star names, after all; playing-style fit matters just as much. Anthony Gordon has genuinely shown himself to be the connective tissue here, slotting neatly into the system and unlocking the team’s attack as a whole.
Rodri anchoring the midfield: the biggest asset from this window
The other eye-catching new arrival is fresh World Cup Golden Ball winner Rodri. The former Ballon d’Or holder has come off the bench in both games so far with limited minutes, but given his injury history and age, that’s actually a smart way to manage him — letting a player without much gas in the tank ease into match rhythm gradually. And what he’s shown in that limited time hasn’t disappointed — paired with Pedri in midfield, it’s a combination that must be genuinely despairing for opponents to face, with elite defensive work and passing reliability that keeps the team’s rhythm locked down and gives the opposition nothing to work with. Rodri has already thoroughly proven what he can do on the biggest stages — from the Champions League to the World Cup that just wrapped up, his consistency in the highest-intensity matches is arguably the best in the world right now, and that’s going to be Barcelona’s biggest asset in taking this season to the next level. That said, given this summer’s World Cup and his injury history, Barcelona will need to carefully manage his minutes so he isn’t overworked.
The concern: thin depth at the back
For all the positives above, Barcelona aren’t entirely without worries. Their only signing at the back this summer was Cancelo, which leaves their defensive depth a little light — the starting back line is all in good form, but if they run into a serious injury crunch, a real weakness could show up there.