According to Sport, Rodri required special consideration when he first arrived at Barcelona. Fatigue from the 2022 World Cup, combined with negotiations with his former club to join Barça, meant he could not complete his preseason preparation normally. Initially cautious, he quickly found his best form.

His statistics in the Champions League match against Feyenoord speak volumes. According to official UEFA data, Rodri covered 11.3 kilometers in 83 minutes. This distance matches Kounde, who played the full match, and is only slightly less than Cancelo, who covered 11.6 kilometers while also playing 90 minutes.

Barcelona's Ballon d'Or winner, alongside Pedri, has become Barça's midfield engine, despite some external doubts beforehand. Pedri also covered 8.9 kilometers in just 63 minutes. Had he played the full match, he would have had a chance to be among the players with the most distance covered.

Barcelona ran further than Feyenoord

Rodri and Pedri's work in midfield is crucial for Flick. They are responsible for blocking opposition passing lanes, preventing transitions, and ensuring quality ball circulation for the team. Barcelona completely dominated the match against Feyenoord, not only in possession and field presence, but also in physical exertion. Barcelona's entire team covered 120 kilometers, while the Dutch side covered 111.7 kilometers. Feyenoord wanted to play more aggressively, but they simply could not withstand Barcelona's superiority.

The addition of Olmo and Fermín has given Barcelona a highly competitive midfield trio, arguably among the best in the world. Bernal also performed as expected, proving he can match his teammates' level in terms of organization despite being just 19 years old. Don't forget that Gavi, after recovering from his injury at Elche, has returned to playing time and remains a true midfield engine.

Barcelona can feel very confident in midfield and satisfied with the Rodri signing. His integration has been very smooth. He has quickly established himself both in the dressing room and on the pitch. He first played 27 minutes against Athletic Bilbao, 26 minutes against Rayo Vallecano, then started for the first time against Valencia, playing 62 minutes; and against Feyenoord, he played 83 minutes.

Rodri has shown remarkable efficiency, always understanding the game in the most appropriate way. He drives this Barcelona team with strong control, and when he is at full performance, he will be an exceptional player.

Sprint before the international break

In the period leading up to the international break, he has been a key figure for Barcelona, who lead La Liga and have delivered a strong goal difference in their Champions League debut. Currently, only Paris Saint-Germain has a better goal difference than Barcelona, aided by their 6-1 victory over the weaker Bratislava.

Barcelona will then travel to Valencia twice in succession, playing against Levante and Sevilla respectively; they then return home for a midweek fixture on Wednesday to face Racing Santander at Spotify Camp Nou. They will also face Sevilla at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán stadium.

After that, the international break will arrive. This time, the UEFA Nations League will schedule two matchdays, and a large number of Barcelona players are expected to be called up for the Spanish squad, as part of this important world champion team.

Rodri will certainly be among them. As captain, he will be selected for the squad to face England, with the match taking place at Wembley Stadium, the first match in their journey to defend their second star. They will then face Czech Republic and play two legs against Croatia.

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