Olmo goes goalless as false nine in Barcelona's 4-1 Galatasaray rout

Barcelona extend perfect Champions League start

Barcelona beat Galatasaray 4-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday night to maintain their perfect start to the new European campaign. It was another commanding performance from Hansi Flick's side, who scored four times and could have added a few more against the Turkish visitors.

Flick springs a surprise with Olmo at No. 9

The German manager raised a few eyebrows with his starting XI, handing Spain star Dani Olmo an unfamiliar role as a false nine. Flick explained his thinking to Movistar before kick-off, saying he believed his World Cup winner could help the team control the match.

“From all the games we have looked at before, we know that they are going to put pressure on us; we have to control them with the ball. That’s why I’ve put Dani as a ‘9’, he can also control the ball, that’s what it’s all about. We also have to manage the load of minutes, since the next game is on Saturday; it must be managed.”

Olmo goes without a goal

While Barcelona's attack clicked and found the net four times, Olmo was unable to get on the scoresheet himself despite being presented with some good opportunities. The experiment produced plenty of possession and control, but the 4-1 scoreline came without a personal contribution from the makeshift striker.

The tactical switch has divided opinion among supporters, with Barca Blaugranes posing the question of the day: hit or miss? What did you think of Hansi Flick's Dani Olmo experiment against Galatasaray?