Rodri makes an immediate impact as Barcelona see doubts fade at Mestalla

Rodri’s first start for Barcelona offered an encouraging glimpse of the influence he can have after the midfielder helped his new side to a composed performance against Valencia at Mestalla.

The Spain international has not yet returned to his best level, but his 60-minute display was enough to generate optimism around his arrival and answer several questions that had emerged since he joined the Catalan club.

According to Sport, Rodri looked at home in Barcelona colours, appearing as if he had been playing alongside his current team-mates for a decade rather than representing a new club for the first time.

That familiarity is partly explained by the midfielder’s natural affinity with a style based on passing, possession and collective movement. He also has the ability to impose his approach on a match in almost any circumstances. Even so, the ease with which the former Manchester City player operated in an unfamiliar team was striking.

Rodri did not need to produce an exceptional performance or show the very best version of himself – a level expected to arrive as he gains match rhythm – to address the doubts surrounding his move.

Questions had been raised over whether Barcelona really needed Rodri, whether he would be physically capable of maintaining a high level of performance and whether he could finally develop an effective partnership with Pedri in midfield.

Those doubts were diminished during his hour on the pitch at Mestalla. The quality of the opposition must be considered, but Rodri played against Valencia with the authority of a player operating at a higher level.

His influence came from several qualities. He read the game intelligently, remained calm while choosing his next action and possessed the technical ability to deliver passes accurately. His physical strength also allowed him to withstand pressure from opponents without losing concentration or being separated from the ball.

That combination gave Barcelona a reliable reference point in possession. Rodri was able to assess what the team needed in each attacking phase and select the next pass without appearing rushed.

His presence also affected the way Valencia defended. Unable to win the ball from him consistently, the home side were repeatedly forced to retreat. That created more space for Pedri to influence play in advanced areas and gave Fermin Lopez greater freedom to attack with intensity, knowing that Rodri provided genuine protection behind him if possession was lost.

The statistics reflected his control of the game. Rodri completed 81 of his 83 passes, giving him a success rate of 98%. In the opposition half, he completed 54 of 55 attempts and also found his target with all five of his long passes.

The latter figure was particularly significant. Rodri showed that he can switch play over distance and locate Lamine Yamal with considerable accuracy.

When Barcelona concentrated their attacks on the left, the midfielder was able to find Barcelona’s number 10 with a precise diagonal pass. That allowed Yamal to confront defenders before Valencia could provide additional cover.

Rodri’s contribution was not limited to what he did with the ball. He made six recoveries, including two inside Barcelona’s penalty area, and committed only one foul that led to a chance for Corberan’s side.

He also came close to scoring his first Barcelona goal in his first start, when a header struck the post.

Readers can discuss these subjects and other football news in greater depth on the Kooora forums.

Rodri remains some distance from his peak, but his performance at Mestalla provided enough evidence to quiet debate about his form and the decision to sign him.

The Spain international should raise Barcelona’s minimum level in La Liga. More importantly for the club’s supporters, his controlled and authoritative style could lift the team’s ceiling in its most demanding fixtures, including matches in the Champions League.