Anthony Gordon explodes: Four assists, four matches, four expectations for Barcelona

In the moment of the away match against Valencia, Anthony Gordon received the ball in the penalty area with his back to goal, then laid it off to Fermín López. That was not just a pass, but one of four assists from him in just four La Liga matches of the 2026-27 season. The fire never goes out on the Barcelona stands, it only changes color into outstretched hands. Between Moscow, two thousand Indonesian hearts spoke one language not in the dictionary, then here in Barcelona, four hearts are tapping the rhythm not in the dictionary. I, the rhythm keeper of Southeast Asian football, have followed every breath of that from when Gordon moved to Camp Nou with a fee of up to 80 million euros. In this season's context, Hansi Flick leads Barcelona with the ambition to reclaim the top of the table after Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are roaring. In the summer, the Catalan club signed Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United, along with Rodri, Gabriel Jesus and João Cancelo. That was a squad revolution, not only about talent but also about living rhythm. Barcelona are aiming for a third consecutive La Liga title, and Gordon is seen as the creative key. But behind the four assists figure is a more complex story: he is no longer a winger touching the sideline like at Newcastle, but has drifted into half-space areas, becoming a central connector. The core insight lies in the clear tactical shift. Gordon received the ball with his back to goal, not running along the sideline but retreating in, assisting Fermín López – a back-to-goal lay-off. Data shows he has had four assists in four matches, compared to two assists in 26 Premier League matches last season. This comparison is not coincidental. At Newcastle, Gordon was still an outsider, waiting for opportunities. In Barcelona, under Flick's rule, he was given permission to find central spaces, fitting the philosophy of "control the game and try to get spaces". Flick once said "Today was a fantastic game, nearly perfect" and "We need normally a real No.9... everyone can score goals". That is how Barcelona operate: not depending on one fixed striker, but rotating, creating loose spaces. I have closely observed through recent matches. In the 5-0 win over Valencia, Gordon not only assisted but also participated in pressing, receiving from Raphinha and Messi. Lamine Yamal, with speed and creativity, combined with Cancelo on the left, formed a duo that made Valencia's defense collapse. Rodri, just arrived, supported in the middle, helping Barcelona control the ball at 65% on average. Data shows Gordon's PPDA dropped significantly, he drifted into half-spaces for over 30% of the time. Compared to Flick's 2026-25 Barcelona, where he still had touchline winger characteristics, this time he has matured into a combination player. Fermín López received from him to score, and Raphinha also scored, showing that Barcelona's attack is no longer dependent on one person. The contrarian angle here is the misunderstanding from outside: many expected Gordon to save Barcelona as he did for Newcastle. But in reality, four assists in four matches is a small sample, easy to regress. He had two assists last season at Newcastle, but never reached this level. The hype from the 80 million euro transfer fee creates great psychological pressure on him. If output slows, Barcelona's stands could turn. Moreover, Flick admitted the team needs a real No.9, meaning they are operating fluid false-nine rotation – risk for the defense when there is no fixed striker. Valencia's 0-5 loss may be due to collapse after an early goal, not reflecting the full strength of the opponent. Barcelona are in first place with 12 points after four matches, but Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are still roaring. Gordon's belonging to Indonesia – from the Jakarta journey to Moscow – makes him a connector, but also brings pressure from the community. Takeaway: This is an internal signal for Barcelona. Gordon is not just a substitute, but a rhythm changer. Through four assists, he proves his connector role, helping the fluid attack team without needing a fixed No.9. The question is, can he maintain this performance over 38 La Liga matches, or will this sample regress? With my experience following football matches from the first hand, I believe Barcelona will compete for the top spot, and Gordon will be a key factor. When we cannot sing, we learn to listen to the team's breathing. That is the real story behind four assists.