Barça vs. Real Sociedad: Setien weighs up return to 4-3-3 formation

Quique Setien has explained why his plan has changed since he arrived at Barcelona. He argued his case for returning to a more pragmatic style in an interview with El Periodico in which he rejected that his role was "suicide." He said it's one thing to be true to a way of thinking, living and interpreting football and another thing to jump off a cliff. Basically, he's talking about common sense. 

The coach, since he arrived at Camp Nou, has been fighting against time, the team's passivity and himself. He seems to have arrived at the middle ground. But he lacks players to do much more. It's for that reason that against Real Sociedad this weekend he is weighing up returning to 4-3-3, having played 4-4-2 in the last two games. 

VIDAL

Arturo Vidal is the key. If he plays, it's likely that 4-3-3 remains in the past for now, although Setien could start with three midfielders as he only has four, plus the B team's Riqui Puig. The youngster's presence cannot be ruled out from the start, but it's more likely we see Busquets, De Jong and Rakitic in a bid for possession.  

WINNING SYSTEM

What's marked the team since Setien took over has not been their shape, but their two faces: one at home and one away. Everything is rosy at Camp Nou but away games are a drama. The same was true under Ernesto Valverde. Nothing has changed in that sense. 

The numbers don't lie. Five games at home, five wins. Six games away, two wins, one draw and three losses. The conclusion is that, beyond the formation, Barça have struggled on the road regardless of the system. 

VICTIMS 

Granada (1-0), Leganes (5-0), Levante (2-1) and Getafe (2-1) have been the teams to face Barça at Camp Nou with a three-man midfield. To be fair, against Granada it was four, because Setien sacrificed a defender to join the middle when with the ball. 

The evolution is logical. Setien has been adding players to the middle. First, he did so with defenders and later with forwards, who would drop back into a 4-4-2. That could be repeated against La Real but a 4-3-3 is more likely.