Karim Adeyemi’s impressive Barcelona numbers put him in line for Alaves start
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Karim Adeyemi is reportedly in line for a starting place when Barcelona host Alaves at Spotify Camp Nou on Saturday, with Hansi Flick looking to inject fresh energy into his attack after consecutive defeats against Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.
According to SPORT, the German winger is expected to benefit from the changes being considered by the Barcelona manager ahead of a demanding run of three matches in eight days.
The fixture against Alaves will be followed by a Champions League meeting with Aston Villa on Tuesday before Barcelona travel to the Metropolitano to face Atletico Madrid on November 8.
Flick wants his players to rediscover the attacking intensity and consistency they demonstrated earlier in the campaign.
On that note, Adeyemi’s pace and direct running could make him a valuable asset as Barcelona attempt to overcome an Alaves defence that will require different attacking solutions.
Adeyemi emerges as an attacking option for Flick
Adeyemi’s potential inclusion in the starting XI is a clear example of the impact he has made since joining Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund.
Adeyemi is likely to start against Alaves. (Photo by Francisco Macia/Getty Images)
In fact, it is crucial to note that Adeyemi has featured in all 13 matches played by Barcelona this season, accumulating more than 450 minutes across competitions.
However, he has started only four of those encounters, making his contribution from the bench an important part of his early campaign.
Barcelona’s attacking numbers show Adeyemi’s efficiency
The strongest argument for Adeyemi’s involvement is his productivity relative to the minutes he has received.
With four goals and three assists giving him seven direct goal contributions in approximately 452 minutes, he is contributing roughly every 65 minutes, placing him third among Barcelona’s players in this particular measure.
Only Lamine Yamal and Raphinha have recorded better averages.
Yamal’s 10 goals and 10 assists translate to a contribution every 55 minutes, while Raphinha’s 15 goals and three assists give him an average of approximately 44 minutes per goal contribution.
Adeyemi has hit the ground running at Barcelona. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
These numbers alone show how efficiently Adeyemi has used his opportunities despite playing considerably fewer minutes than Barcelona’s established attacking leaders.
Flick preparing for a tough run
The timing of all these events is quite significant given Barcelona’s upcoming schedule.
Flick’s side face three demanding fixtures before the next international break, beginning with Saturday’s meeting against Alaves.
The Champions League encounter with Aston Villa follows on November 3, before the trip to Atletico Madrid five days later.
Understandably, managing the workload of the attacking players will therefore be an important consideration for the German manager.