Barcelona roles reversed for Fermin Lopez and Dani Olmo under Flick and De la Fuente

Fermin Lopez has been the preferred playmaker for Barcelona this season, but Dani Olmo remains first choice for Spain under Luis de la Fuente.

Both Hansi Flick and De la Fuente generally use a 4-3-3 formation, although their systems contain some differences. Each also includes a playmaker, with the role shared by Lopez and Olmo.

The opening weeks of the season at Barcelona, followed by Spain’s four Nations League matches during the international break, have highlighted the contrasting preferences of the two managers.

Lopez returned to the Spain squad as Barcelona’s established starter in the position, having been selected ahead of Olmo by Flick. The 22-year-old has started five matches for Barcelona this season, compared with three starts for Olmo.

He also leads his team-mate statistically, with four goals and two assists. Olmo has provided three assists but is still seeking his first goal for Barcelona this season.

Lopez has played 466 minutes for the Catalan club, 124 more than Olmo’s total of 342.

The picture has changed completely with Spain. While Lopez has occupied the starting playmaker role for Barcelona, Olmo continues to hold that position for the national team, as he did at the last World Cup in Lopez’s absence.

Under De la Fuente, Olmo started three of Spain’s four Nations League fixtures. The only match in which he did not start was the emphatic 4-1 victory over Croatia, when Lopez was named in the starting line-up. That was Lopez’s only start at the beginning of this Nations League campaign.

Lopez remained on the bench for the entire match at Wembley. He then came on for Olmo against Czechia in the 67th minute before replacing him again against Croatia in the 71st minute.

Olmo played 220 minutes across Spain’s four matches and contributed three assists. Lopez, meanwhile, played only 91 minutes, although he set up Lamine Yamal for the goal that opened Spain’s scoring against Croatia.

That represents a 129-minute difference in Olmo’s favour, the exact reverse of the situation at Barcelona.

Both players now return to Flick’s squad as Barcelona prepare for La Liga and the Champions League. The club face a crowded and demanding schedule in October, meaning the German manager is expected to rotate his squad to maintain his players’ fitness and freshness.

The key question will be who Flick selects for the matches no player wants to miss, including the visit to Parc des Princes in Paris and the Clasico on 25 October at Spotify Camp Nou.

If Flick keeps faith with his established starting line-up, Lopez should retain the advantage. However, Olmo enters this stage with greater momentum after his international performances.