Hansi Flick’s dream begin to life in Barcelona endured its first dose of bitter actuality in September.

After cantering into the brand new season on the again of 5 straight wins, the Catalan giants suffered defeat of their Champions League opener in opposition to Monaco. They misplaced first-choice goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to a long-term harm three days later earlier than ending the month by delivery 4 targets in a convincing reverse in opposition to Osasuna.

Regardless of the lowlights, there have been loads of brilliant spots for a aspect that recovered to guide La Liga heading into October’s worldwide break. Utilizing the ballot which drew upon the opinion of greater than 20,000 Barcelona followers in 90min’s devoted WhatsApp channel (hyperlink to observe beneath) listed here are the workforce’s standout people from the final month of motion.

Raphinha hasn’t all the time loved a superb relationship with Barcelona‘s demanding fanbase. Flick’s choice to make the Brazilian ahead one of many membership’s 5 captains at first of the season was greeted with confusion from supporters who weren’t fully impressed by a haul of six league targets final time period. Raphinha already has 5 in La Liga this season, together with a brace in September’s helter-skelter 5-1 win over Villarreal.

The previous Leeds United winger has blossomed in additional of a central function, embracing the bodily calls for launched by Flick and thriving within the direct model which bought one of the best out of him in Yorkshire throughout Marcelo Bielsa’s time on the membership. By the top of September, Raphinha led La Liga for top depth runs and darts behind the opposition backline, per The Athletic. Such tenacity has emphatically gained over the Catalan crowd.

In stark distinction to Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski has loved his personal return to kind this autumn by working much less.

The prolific Pole recorded virtually half as many sprints as Raphinha over the identical timeframe, unburdened by the draining calls for of main Barcelona’s press as Flick has instructed the workforce’s huge gamers to cost ahead first. The 36-year-old solely has to shadow the opposition’s defensive midfielder, focussing as an alternative on getting within the field and doing what he has all the time accomplished finest: rating targets.

As not too long ago as this summer time, Lamine Yamal was nonetheless bunking up with youth-team gamers on the membership’s famed La Masia academy. “My bed room is simply two minutes away from the Barcelona dressing room,” Yamal shrugged in an interview with GQ in July. “I do not want an excessive amount of time to get there.”

The 17-year-old has since moved out of the scholar digs however the commute has not pressured his lofty degree to drop. Fairly the alternative.

Not often is there a recreation during which Yamal doesn’t do one thing to make the gang gasp. Whether or not it is a deft nutmeg, ripsnorting shot or a move with the skin of his boot in opposition to Villarreal which was so outrageous that the Spanish publication AS hailed it “the help of the century”, there may be seemingly no finish to the teenager’s expertise. No marvel Flick lauds his younger prodigy as “unbelievable” at each given alternative.

The one factor which might probably deny Yamal topping each reputation ballot sooner or later will likely be harm – a destiny which has befallen so lots of his teammates and compelled him to return early from the October worldwide break.

Lamine Yamal’s Barcelona stats in September

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