Merte: Vidal “stands for new model Barca”

DAZN expert Per Mertesacker has praised FC Barcelona midfielder Arturo Vidal to the full before the Champions League semi-final return leg against FC Liverpool. Vidal give the Barca game a whole new element.

“He is a synonym that stands for the new Barca model,” explained Mertesacker. “Vidal balances out an extreme amount. When the bar has to hit a long ball, he always plays Vidal because he’s the only one who can really go to the header.” Thus the Chilean, who had moved from FC Bayern Munich to Barcelona, brought a “variation” into the game of the Blaugrana.

“Messi takes a lot of time out in defensive play. Who’s gonna make up for that? Vidal,” said Mertesacker. “Who’s going to call the Liverpool Outer Defender? Vidal.” Vidal’s way of playing is “untypical” for Barca, but that’s exactly why he is so valuable. “He takes a lot of risks and often barges, but he did extremely well in the first leg.”

This season, the 31-year-old has so far played 49 matches for FC Barcelona. In the Champions League, Vidal was only absent in the last group match against Tottenham Hotspur.