Simeone details Barcelona's tactical change that Raphinha makes devastating for opponents

Simeone warns that Barcelona's tactical shift—with Raphinha's mobility replacing Lewandowski's static presence—creates defensive complexity for opponents.

Ahead of Sunday's clash at the Metropolitano, Atlético Madrid manager Diego Simeone detailed how Barcelona's attacking setup has evolved this season, with Brazilian winger Raphinha at its centre.

Simeone praised Raphinha as "an extraordinary footballer" with pace, goals and assists, noting he has started the campaign brilliantly in a new position. The 27-year-old has 15 goals and three assists across all competitions, including a recent Champions League brace against Aston Villa.

The key tactical difference, Simeone explained, is Barcelona's loss of a static centre-forward like last season's Robert Lewandowski. Now, with Dani Olmo and Raphinha rotating through advanced positions, Barcelona's fluidity makes them harder to defend against. "Raphinha can play as a playmaker to illuminate the game or on the left wing, where he's doing very well," Simeone said. "They've lost the positional reference they had, and now defending is more complex because Raphinha's movement isn't the same as pinning down a number 9." Simeone stressed that Atlético will need perfect collective work, constant support and intensity to get a result.