How Xavi Has Been Using Pedri And Gavi To Dominate Half-Spaces At Barcelona – Scout Report

Even at a tough moment in Barcelonas history, one of the most successful and popular football clubs in the world, with a strong tradition of producing talented players and playing with a tiki-taka style of play, La Masia produced two world-class talented players for the first team: Pablo Martín Páez Gavira and Pedro González López, better known as Gavi and Pedri.

This was in sync with the return of club legend Xavi Hernández as a coach.

Under Xavis command, FC Barcelona is attempting to execute positional play, maintain possession, work the ball through various channels, and press high to regain possession quickly when lost.

They are big on using some interactions in the half-spaces where Gavi and Pedri are his primary lances.

However, despite their different abilities, the duo complements each other perfectly, with the same contrast and completion between Xavi and Iniesta.

Every game has its tactics, but any manager has principles, and no manager can change all tactics from one game to another.

Hence, this tactical analysis, in the form of a team scout report, will provide a simple clarification analysis for the half spaces and how Xavi uses Pedri and Gavi in his tactics.

Half-space’s short clarification

The half-space or interior corridor is an area of the field located between the sideline and the central lane.

It is also known as half-channels and is often used as channels for attacking play.

As explained previously, the positional approach involves increasing the number of passing options available and having players position themselves in defined areas.

Theoretically, its definition seeks superiority and fluidity, with players required to adhere to certain principles, such as diagonality and dynamism.

Diagonality is not just the difference between diagonal, square, and vertical passes but also the existence of the half-spaces between the centre and wings.

Thus, in the half-spaces, the fields of view are not vertical, but diagonal.

Looking diagonally from the half-space towards the goal gives more options and significantly more space to work with.

FB would be in a lose-lose situation with a long distance and different zones to defend against.

Half-spaces provide an animated dynamism for the combinations by binding the central and wing zones, which effectively confuses the opponents.